Strengthen East Asia-Latin America Ties
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/strengthen-east-asia-latin-america-ties/
East Asia and Latin America
are economically two of the fastest-growing regions in the world. They also
have young populations, eager to participate in global affairs but until now,
the two regions have not engaged deeply.
Trade stood at $267 billion in 2011 but it has been growing
steadily. There is no doubt that trade investments and information can flow in
much greater breadth and depth between the two regions if they make an effort
to build closer ties.
Foreign ministers from East Asia and Latin America meeting
in Bali this week were hoping to do just that.
While it is uncertain if any big deals were struck in Nusa Dua, the fact that
the ministers were talking is a giant step forward.
In his closing speech for the 6th Forum for East Asia and Latin American Cooperation (Fealac),
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono emphasized the importance of building
connectivity to allow citizens of countries in both regions to have more
intensive contacts. In essence, the countries on either side of the Pacific
need to build an economic bridge on which trade, information and ideas can
flow.
Since its establishment in 1999, Fealac has been the only
inter-governmental cooperation forum that connects the East Asian and Latin
American regions. As such it plays a crucial role in helping to build this
economic bridge.
Currently, Fealac represents 40 percent of the world
population, 32 percent of the world economy and more than 40 percent of world
trade. Given the troubles in the euro-zone and the slight pick-up in the United States, East Asia and Latin
America have the opportunity to create a new future together.
This will not happen on its own. It will require strong
government support; private sector participation and the exchange of culture,
education and ideas. One quick start is for the 36 Fealac members to lower or
remove trade barriers and tariffs so that goods and services can flow and grow
unhindered.
Mexico
and Indonesia Can Work to
Bring Asia and Latin America Closer
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/mexico-and-indonesia-can-work-to-bring-asia-and-latin-america-closer/
Mexico’s
multilateral engagement stems from a basic principle of our foreign policy — to
play a responsible and increasingly influential role in the construction of
emerging international constructions.
To this end, we need to engage key partners, and many of
whom currently found both across Asia and Latin America.
Both regions have become key players whose political and
economic weight cannot be overlooked as the world sets out to secure a better
standard of living for the world’s population based on more effective
international institutions, deeper cooperation on development and more
democratic decision-making processes.
Both regions rank high in Mexico’s
priorities, as President Enrique Pena Nieto’s recent activities have shown,
such as a very productive visit to China
and Japan last April and
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s successful recent state visit to Mexico,
welcoming in a new era of relations between the two countries.
Equally important has been Mexico’s work with Latin American
partners in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States created in
Mexico in 2010 and in the Pacific Alliance, a multilateral and ambitious Latin
American integration effort centered on free trade and a clear orientation
toward Asia.
Indeed, both the Asia-Pacific and Latin
America stand as fresh engines of growth in a world with a need
for renewed cooperation, dialogue and leadership among industrialized countries
striving for economic recovery and political revitalization.
This is why the Forum of East Asia-Latin America Cooperation
matters as a tool to facilitate and strengthen cooperation between our
countries, and serve as an important piece in the new global architecture we
are creating.
Working relationship
Similarities as emerging nations may lead to plenty of
opportunities to work together on joint development projects that will greatly
benefit our societies.
Cross-regional dialogue within FEALAC means the possibility
to exert a positive influence in areas such as sustainable development, climate
change, the UN Millennium Development Goals, the World Trade Organization’s
Doha Development Round and much more.
Firstly, it is important to agree on a strategy to
revitalize the Forum itself, give it more international visibility and lay the
groundwork for increased and truly bi-regional cooperation among member
countries.
Successful practices and experiences can be shared with
other organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and
the CELAC-European Union summit mechanism to identify viable proposals to help
deepen relations between all regions involved.
To improve the way specific groups go about their tasks by,
for instance, reinforcing methodology and establishing terms of reference and
monitoring guidelines, as well as exploring more general ways to strengthen
cooperative organizations’ structure and high-level meeting strategy.
It is regarding this that relationships between Indonesia, a
rapidly developing and diverse country, become more crucial than ever.
Mexico’s
role
In this spirit, it is important to underline that Mexico stands
ready to implement all the recommendations included in FEALAC Vision Group’s
report.
We are aware of the importance of this moment in the history
of relations between East Asia and Latin America.
Indonesia
is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and
one of the fastest growing economies in the region.
As co-chair of this 6th Forum’s meeting, Indonesia will
certainly facilitate making progress to improve development strategies in our
respective regions.
To Mexico,
Indonesia is a gateway to Asia. Our diplomatic relations are reaching the 60-year
mark and we can say that over this period our governments and societies have
adapted successfully to the many challenges we have faced, with our economies
contributing responsibly to finding solutions to global issues concerning us
all.
Multilaterally, Mexico
and Indonesia
cast similar votes in the United Nations 85 percent of the time, meaning our
countries do share a significantly common perspective on global issues.
Besides, Mexico
and Indonesia
are also part of key multilateral forums — like the G20, APEC and certainly
FEALAC — where our input and leadership have proved fundamental for
establishing the foundations for numerous agreements that led to concrete
action by all actors.
This anniversary is indeed a welcome opportunity to take
stock of what we have achieved already and to identify the areas requiring a
closer look.
Such an appraisal will show our excellent relations for six
decades can serve as a solid foundation for fine-tuning a partnership that has
flourished politically, economically and culturally, and will hopefully
continue to do so well into the future.
Last March I was honored to welcome Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty
Natalegawa, to Mexico City.
On that occasion, I stressed the importance of giving more
content to our relations by signing the agreements we have already negotiated
and finalized, in areas as diverse as air transport, tourism and health, to
mention a few.
As part of my visit to Indonesia this week, I would like
to convey to the Indonesian government and people a message of friendship and
cooperation from President Pena Nieto.
I would also like to convey his intention to participate in
the APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Bali next
October.
Indonesia’s
priorities for this summit coincide with many of Mexico’s development objectives,
which add to our interest in joining forces with the Indonesian government in
making the APEC meeting a success.
Mexico
and Indonesia represent the
good tides and fair winds that currently benefit both Latin
America and Asia Pacific. Let us take advantage of this
circumstance to come closer and work hand in hand for the benefit of our
peoples.
Sixty years of friendship are undoubtedly a solid base on
which to build a common future.
Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena is Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign
Affairs.