Asian economies must focus on energy, brand creation: Shaukat addresses Boao Forum for Asia

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday urged the Asian economies to join hands for sustainable energy security, to ensure its supply, and to deal with the effects of global warming, which are key concerns for the region.
"Energy security, assured supply and degradation of environment are key concerns," he said while delivering keynote address at the ''Boao Forum for Asia 2007'' on ''Asia driving global growth''. Other keynote speakers were Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines, Microsoft Corporation Chairman Bill Gates, and Wu Bangguo, Chairman, Standing Committee of the National People''s Congress of China. Dr Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh was also present.
Prime Minister urged the Asian economies to fight environmental degradation, create its own "brand" and ensure equity in growth for a prosperous future.
Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is the most prestigious and premier forum for leaders in government, business and academia in Asia and other continents, and the theme this year is ''Asia searching for win''.
Shaukat, who praised China for making unbelievable progress in every field of life and a true friend of Pakistan, called for greater intra-region co-operation so that the people of the region should benefit from each other''s experiences.
"Asia is an important pole of the global economy, and process of sub-regional integration must lead to greater intra-regional and inter-regional co-operation," he added.
He said that Pakistan is committed to building a harmonious Asia and its high growth trajectory and doubling of the economy provide opportunities for greater interaction with the world and especially Asian economies. He said that there was need of a holistic strategy to realise the vision of common development of the peoples of Asia.
He said that Asian economies have leverage over other economies and this should be tapped and benefited from. "Important to economic leverage is complementarily between Asian sub-regions in terms of natural resources, young and skilled work force, huge markets, entrepreneurial and technological talent," he added. He said that zones of conflict, turbulence and turmoil exist, and conflict resolution was indispensable for creating conducive conditions for sustainable growth and development.
He observed that as Asian economies were surging ahead, no country or society should be marginalised and the processes of sub-regional integration must lead to greater intra-regional and inter-regional co-operation.
Aziz said that Pakistan was entering into arrangements for free trade and comprehensive economic partnership with Asian countries. Giving a picture of Pakistan''s economy, he said that national development strategy was focused on creating corridors of energy, communication and transportation to link Eurasian hinterland across oceans.
He suggested that ''Boao Forum Asia'' (BFA) should initiate a series of seminars and symposiums on these critical issues to update the people about the issues being faced by the Asian countries, and also offered to host the first of these two under BFA auspices in Islamabad. He also urged for harmonisation of standards, customs co-operation and closer financial interbanking arrangements among the Asian countries.