Dimapur, February 23 (MExN): Today, there is universal recognition of the fact that global focus has shifted from the West to the East and that the 21st century will be an Asian century, said SC Jamir, Governor of Goa. Delivering the keynote address at the valedictory function of the 3rd ‘Building A Better Asia Future Leaders’ Dialogue which was attended by youth leaders from about a dozen Asian countries, Jamir said the concept of the 21st century being the Asian century is commonly and rightly attributed to the historic meeting between the Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
“The most important component of this concept is without doubt the astounding economic growth in the Asian continent, particularly China and India. Arising from this rapid economic growth is the increasing political, demographic and cultural power that Asia now wields. Over the years, Asia has been setting the global agenda in many areas instead of being a mere participant and is emerging as a big brother playing its rightful role on the world stage,” Jamir said as per a press note received here.
Pointing out that growth rates of China and India have ranged between 8 to 10% over the last few years, he said by harnessing the skills, energies and abilities of over 2 billion people, these two nations have developed economies that can soon rival those of USA and Europe, apart from offering a huge domestic market for other countries.
Thanks to the process of liberalisation, globalisation and economic reforms adopted by them, the inherent strengths of China and India have been given the opportunity to fuel growth and development as never before.
Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while addressing the ASEAN Business Advisory Council at Kuala Lumpur in 2005, Jamir said the Government of India’s Look East Policy was “not merely an external economic policy, it was also a strategic shift in India’s vision of the world and India’s place in the evolving global economy. Most of all it was about reaching out to our civilizational neighbours in South East Asia and East Asia.” The Look-East policy has moved ahead successfully since the beginning of this century and India’s bilateral trade with ASEAN countries which is at about 20 billion dollars is growing at an impressive rate of 25% per annum, he said and that “India is also improving its relations with the help of other policy decisions like offers of lines of credit, better connectivity through air (open skies policy), rail and road links, cultural exchanges etc.
“Now India, through this policy, also seeks the development of India's Northeast region, as this region is a natural gateway to South East Asia. We realise that the best antidote to the problems of this remote region is growth and development, which can be best achieved by encouraging trade and commerce in this part of India. There are immense possibilities and mutual benefits for both India and other countries of S E Asia,” he said.
Being the largest continent in the world, a peaceful and progressive Asia is the key to progress and prosperity of not only this continent but also of other continents, he said.
“We have many things in common and a shared future for the common good of all should be our objective. We cannot let political, social or cultural tensions dilute or destroy our common bonds. Globalisation has erased man made boundaries and it is now time for us to come closer in every sphere. Economic growth has helped in getting us closer to sharing wealth and progress,” he opined.He hoped that this initiative in Goa will help in taking this process forward.
