East Asian Economies Must Strengthen Ties For More Humanitarian Future

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- East Asian economies have been urged to strengthen collaboration and shift values away from the materialistic to a positive humanitarian-spiritual orientation. In making the call, Malaysian entrepreneur Vijay Eswaran also said East Asian member countries must take into account the values of the new world in developing their economies, as mankind is continually evolving. The Executive Chairman of QI Group said this at a panel discussion on "Values: Lost in translation" at the recent 21st World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Bangkok. "This is because people in the region have strongly adapted, adjusted and accommodated new values that are now in transition. "As mankind developed communities and generations, their values became stronger. Today, we have adapted to a whole new system and probably a new communality as well," he added. Vijay said that given the urban-rural divide, the value system is continually evolving and changing. "Values the region had previously developed have now become different as people have developed further. "We have also developed communities, and youths are actively engaging in and shaping the values of the current generation. "This is why it is critical to account for new world values in developing our economies," he added. Vijay was a panelist in the interactive session moderated by Kevin Lu, the World Bank Group's Regional Director for Asia Pacific. The WEF on East Asia focuses on connectivity within the Asean grouping, and Southeast Asian nations. -- BERNAMA