Malaysian Ex-PM Presents Asean's Approach To World Peace

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Asean could be the best tangible representation of the enduring spirit of cooperation and community that were needed to achieve world peace, said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The former prime minister said that although Asean member states have differences, even disputes, and were not always of the same mind from time to time, but their commitment to the association was unwavering and would ensure that any differences would not interfere with the regional common good. "As with most things, building an organisation takes patience and effort. It is a time-consuming and painstaking exercise. But the payoffs are substantial, even invaluable, for it helps to ensure that we have the peace and stability that is essential for development" he said when addressing the World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China on Sunday. His text of speech was made available here. The two-day forum, themed "Win-win For All: Peace, Security and Cooperation" was officiated by China vice-president Xi Jinping this morning. Abdullah said Asean was not self-centred and concerned only with its own security, but had created conditions for peace beyond the region as well through its relation with dialogue partners including China, India, Russia and the United States. "Other bodies, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation also play the vital role of bringing us together to work on issues of mutual interest so that there is no time of inclination to create discord," he said. Abdullah took the opportunity to commend China for its productive contribution to the cause of world peace for the past three decades, especially with its economic reform and full integration into the international community. He said by its growing capacity in economic, strategic and politic, China have the responsibility to use the power that comes with it in legitimate and constructive ways. "China's interest are becoming indistinguishable from that of the international community at large. In this regard, by patient engagement and adroit diplomacy at peace, by helping others to remove barriers and develop as it has done itself, China can do a lot to underscore a win-win outcome for all," he said. Asean stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with members comprising Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia. Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, VietNam. -- BERNAMA