Daily Times

That Pakistan has thrown in its lot with fellow Asian countries to promote regional integration through physical, economic and cultural connectivity was evident from Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani’s speech at the Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held in the Chinese island province of Hainan on April 2-4, 2012. The forum, which came into being in the wake of the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s, has grown into a premier platform for the Asian nations to review every year the economic situation in their own countries as well as at regional and global levels, and chalk out future strategies for sustained and sustainable growth. The theme of the conference this year was: Asia in the Changing World: Moving Towards Sound and Sustainable Development.

The most prominent feature of the conference was the keynote speech by China’s Vice-Premier Li Keyquang. The speech reflected the successes and achievements the peoples of China and Asia have secured in socio-economic development through working together during the last three decades. “Asia now,” said Mr. Li in his speech, “accounts for 30 percent of global GDP and its contribution towards world’s growth surpasses 30 percent.” In order to sustain growth and further develop their economies, the Chinese leader called on the Asian nations to promote internal drivers of an inclusive growth, and stay open both to the world and their neighbours. The focus of the Chinese vice-premier’s speech was to promote regional cooperation through connectivity. “Asian countries,” said Li, “need to further enhance their consultation and cooperation, promote trade liberalisation and investment facilitation, oppose all forms of protectionism, upgrade the connectivity and networks of transport, communication and energy infrastructure, deepen regional and sub-regional cooperation, and work to promote common development between Asia and the rest of the world. Openness and cooperation benefits all and leads to win-win progress.”

Prime Minister Gilani’s speech echoed exactly the same theme when he mentioned his country’s landmark agreement with Afghanistan on the transit trade facility, bold initiative to expand bilateral trade and investment relations with India, and conclusion of regional agreements on gas pipelines and communication and transport networks. These measures not only represent the forward-looking vision of the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government of Pakistan regarding the country’s role in the 21st century, they would also enhance intra-regional and inter-regional connectivity, involving South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia. It may be mentioned that Pakistan has finalised arrangements with Iran, China and the countries of Central Asia to develop transport and communication links to promote trade and travel within a wider framework of regional cooperation, not only for economic development and prosperity but also for the purpose of bringing the peoples of these regions closer to each other. The most significant development of course is a series of measures the governments of Pakistan and India have agreed on to enhance bilateral trade. In October 2011, Pakistan announced its decision to begin the process of according India Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. The process, involving expert-level talks and three bilateral meetings between the commerce ministers of the two countries within a span of seven months, has led to a slashing of negative tariff lists of items by Pakistan to 1,029. According to a cabinet decision of Pakistan, the negative list would be phased out by December 2012. The two countries also opened recently an integrated check post at the Wagah-Attari border to facilitate bilateral trade through the land route. These measures taken by the government of Prime Minister Gilani have been supported by all stakeholders in Pakistan and much appreciated by the international community as heralding a new era in relations between Pakistan and India that is certain to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the South Asian region.

China, as the prime minister rightly pointed out in his speech, is an integral part of the Asian economic resurgence. Pakistan’s decision to liberalise bilateral trade and expansion of communication links with China is closely linked with the country’s plan for promoting regional connectivity. “There is now,” the prime minister said in his address to the Plenary Session of the Boao Conference, “a recognition that the 21st century will be an ‘Asian century’. By 2050, Asia will be more than half of the world’s economy. Consequently, China’s role in the global economic order will be further enhanced,” he said. This underscores the importance of the enhanced trade and economic relationship between Pakistan and China. The prime minister’s speech at the Boao Conference highlighted the need for learning from the experience of China. As he remarked, “In developing our vision for sustainable development, we can benefit from the experience of China. This would require national discipline, competitive edge and international partnership,” he said. The Chinese vice-premier in his address also struck the same theme. “More than a decade ago,” he said, “Boao was still a small fishing village little known to the outside world. Today, it has become a major platform for people to compare notes on issues important to Asia’s development. Boao has grown through the opening-up and development of Asia and China, its opening-up and changes have reflected how deeply connected China and Asia, Asia and the world have become. This gathering gives all of us a good opportunity to look at our world and learn from each other. The Boao Forum is an open and inclusive platform, based in Asia yet with a global perspective.”

The speech delivered by Prime Minister Gilani at the Boao Forum early this month confirmed Pakistan’s determination to be a part of the Asian integration process. Despite heavy constraints on our economy such as the devastating floods of 2010 and heavy costs incurred on the war against terror, the government of Prime Minister Gilani has succeeded in bringing about a turnaround in the national economy through a series of measures. Some of these measures such as fiscal balance, incentives for the private sector to compete globally, and a liberal investment regime were mentioned by the prime minister in his speech. Prime Minister Gilani’s speech at the Boao Annual Conference 2012 sent a positive message to Asia and the world about Pakistan’s ability to play a constructive role in the process of change and adjustment in the region and around the globe.

The writer is a professor of International Relations at Sargodha University and can be reached at Rashid_khan192@yahoo.com