The Hindu : Asian leaders for greater regional integration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 22, 2003

International

International

Asian leaders for greater regional integration

Seoul June 21. The World Economic Forum on Thursday announced results of a ground-breaking survey of attitudes and aspirations of Asia's new generation of leaders, conducted in the lead-up to their community retreat in Seoul this week. The web-based survey, covering participants and invitees to the New Asian Leaders (NAL) retreat in Seoul, and Asia-based Global Leaders for Tomorrow, reveals that Asia's new generation of leaders are very supportive of regional integration, and mindful of the region's need to decisively deal with nationalism, corruption and poverty.

Over 51 percent of survey respondents — from India, South-East Asia, China, Korea and Japan — said that the level of economic cooperation in Asia is "adequate, but more is desirable.'' Over 37 per cent said there is ``too little cooperation'' existing now. Only 8.9 per cent said the current level of cooperation is "just right.'' Over 37 per cent of New Asian Leaders view an extended Asia — Asean+4, including China, Japan, India, and Korea — as the most desirable model of economic integration, with 26.8 per cent preferring Asean+3.

When asked about the obstacles to reaching a high level of economic cooperation, New Asian Leaders identified national interests (46 per cent) as being the primary obstacle, well ahead of historical, social or cultural differences or income disparities. Asked what was Asia's greatest social challenge, they cited corruption (44 per cent), poverty (39 per cent) and income gaps (37.5 per cent) as the leading problems. Notably, survey respondents in their 30s differed from peers in their 40s. The younger group cited income gaps as the first problem (44 per cent) and corruption second (40 per cent), whereas those in their 40s cited corruption first (48 per cent) and income gaps second (32 per cent). Similar differences were observed in identifying the roles of companies in society. While 56 per cent of those in their 30s said companies' primary role in society should be to "participate in social development,'' only 35 per cent of those in their 40s agreed. The older set was more likely to say that companies should focus on "making money and paying taxes.'' New Asian Leaders will address these and other issues during the retreat in Seoul.

The World Economic Forum's New Asian Leaders are Asia's new generation of young change-makers in business, Government, civil society and other sectors. Over 60 NALs will gather in Seoul to collectively review their Blueprints for a New Asia — which address themes covered in the survey — e.g. economic integration, regional dynamics, corruption and poverty.

They will also chart the next steps for taking these Blueprints, which are visions of change around China, India, Korea, Japan and South-East Asia, to the next stage of development and implementation.

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