By LUCIA KUBOSOVA
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has suggested that Asia and Pacific countries, including the region’s heavyweights such as China, India and Japan, form a regional bloc similar to the European Union.
“The key thing is to enhance security and regional co-operation, which at present is fragmented,” Rudd said in a radio interview on Wednesday (4 June), AFP has reported, after he presented the idea during an address to the Asia Society of Australasia.
Mr Rudd suggests Asian-Pacific community would loosely follow the EU’s integration path (Photo: Council of the European Union)
He argued that an “Asia-Pacific Community” could be founded by 2020 as a forum for tackling climate change and terrorism, as well as settling territorial conflicts, such as over Kashmir, the Taiwan Straits and the Korean peninsula.
Furthermore, it could serve as a trade platform to help exploit the benefits of the looming economic power of the region, which he thinks will be “at the centre of global affairs” throughout this century.
“Put simply, global economic and strategic weight is shifting to Asia,” he said.
Commenting on possible comparisons with the 27-strong European Union - which is set to enlarge further - Mr Rudd said that it does not serve as “an identical model of what we would seek to develop in the Asia-Pacific, but what we can learn from Europe is this: It is necessary to take the first step,” according to Radio Australia.
His suggestions come shortly after a similar process of regional integration has resulted in the creation of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), set up by a founding treaty signed last month.
The new supranational and intergovernmental body has combined two previously existing customs unions – Mercosur and the Andean Community – with 12 participating countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Chile.
Its institutional structure directly copies the EU model, with UNASUR’s headquarters to be located in Quito, Ecuador, a South American parliament seated in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and a ‘Bank of the South’ to be situated in Bogota, Colombia.
Other regional groupings inspired by Europe include a single market without trade barriers for goods and services agreed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the African Union.
1 response so far ↓
Bob // July 9, 2008 at 3:50 am
Yeah. I kind of agree. But did you see this also from business leaders - seems as if they support it as well:
Business Leaders Back Aussie PM’s Asian Open Borders Plan
SYDNEY
June 6, 2008
Leading Asian business leaders today endorsed Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s concept of an Asia-Pacific Union similar to the European Union by 2020.
Endorsing the Australian Prime Ministers Plan today the Young Members President of the Australia-Asia Business Leaders Forum, Mr Kenneth Ray, said that the Prime Ministers plan was “visionary” and would allow “young professionals in all Asia-Pacific countries to work, gain experience and expand cultural exchanges with other Asia-Pacific countries”.
“A substantial benefit of the European Union has been its open borders in relation to employment. The free flow of trade and employment has allowed business professionals from all EU countries to gain expertise in new and emerging eastern European markets, as well as solidifying cross border cultural exchanges. There can be no doubt that open employment borders enhance cultural understanding and underlying economic fundamentals” said Mr Ray.
Mr Rudd’s plan has attracted criticism from some quarters as being “aloof” and “unrealistic” in todays climate. The Prime Ministers plan would be pursued through APEC – an existing grouping of 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC currently focuses on limited economic and political areas of dialogue.
The Australia-Asia Business Leaders Forum, Mr Ray said, had proposed a similar arrangement more than 2 years ago. “However, that idea was likely ahead of its time. But Australia and young Australian working professionals have a lot to gain from Mr Rudd’s plan. We hope that the Prime Minister sticks to his vision and leaves the nay-sayers behind”.
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