The Asia Economic Community Forum 2009 was held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from Nov. 11 to 13. Many distinguished scholars, governments, and businessmen attended the three day event to discuss the future of the Asian economic community with the rise of China and India.
The forum started with opening remarks by Kim Hak-su, chairman of the Asia Economic Community Foundation. In his speech, Kim explained how Asia was the most important region in the global economy until 19th century. Due to the industrialization of Europe and North America, the leaders of the global economy shifted from eastern to western countries. During the 20th century, he said, most Asian countries were affected by wars. However, after the wars, northeast Asian countries saw fast economic growth. Now, according to Mr. Kim, for the past two decades China and India have been growing rapidly, and they are both capable of changing the 21st century.
The new challenge is to create economic integration among Asian countries called the Asia Economic Community. Asia is made of many countries with diverse cultures and different political and economic systems, but the Asian community establishment has already started. There are three sub-regional inter-government bodies - the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) - which can all be significant building blocks to create an Asian community. Also the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), is promoting cooperation among nations and inter-governmental agreements regarding transportation connections were made for economic integration. Lastly, government efforts to have more summits among Asian countries are increasing, and political collaboration strengthens the establishment of a future Asian community.
Following the opening remarks, Mayor Ahn Sang-su of Incheon Metropolitan City gave a welcome speech. The mayor explained his plan to transform Incheon into a world renowned city like New York, Paris, or London by 2020. Incheon is getting more attention around the globe as a hub of Northeast Asia, and the city will continue its progress through diverse range of projects, active international business, clean environment and good education. The world class international airport, advanced seaport, and professional workers are important factors to build the city as an economic hub in Northeast Asia. The city will also advance through the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and become the future global city of the 21st century. He also said that although the world has experienced the global economic crisis last year, Asia recovered faster than any other regions. Asian economic influence is becoming larger and the center of world economy is moving toward Asia. There are numbers of diversity in races, cultures, and values in Asia. Even economic and political systems are different. Although no one expected the integration of Asian countries, the forum is a starting point for Asian Union. The creation of an Asian Association is a long term solution to compete in the world economic market.
