Surin Pitsuwan has among the most interesting, and difficult of jobs in Southeast Asia. As secretary-general of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he is tasked with bringing together a disparate group to build consensus on a range of political, economic and cultural issues. After the end of last week’s Asean and East Asia Summits in Bali, he assesses the progress in an interview with Devjyot Ghoshal. Edited excerpts:
How would you gauge this year’s Asean and East Asia Summit (EAS)?
The forums have been recognised globally. Coming after the G20 in Cannes, I have counted 11 members here who’ve been at Cannes, and 14 who’ve been to APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu). So, EAS and the Asean Summit have been elevated to that part, and that it happened next to each other is a very important factor. The world is focusing on (this) major forum and (how it is) addressing global challenges.
Three major issues were discussed. The first was allowing Myanmar to chair Asean in 2014. What do you think of the progress on this front?
I am very satisfied. We could help Myanmar integrate itself with Asean more openly and more effectively, and through us, engage with the world.
The United States’ recognition of the positive changes, in the words of (US President Barack) Obama, is a very welcome development. And, I think after (US Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton (due to visit Myanmar next month), international institutions will have to make some re-examination of their position. I expect some positive changes from them, too, as what I would call reciprocal treatment to what’s going on inside (Myanmar).
The countries (and institutions) like Japan, the European Union, the UN, World Bank and Asian Development Bank will have to make some adjustments, which will be important to give further impetus to the already positive evolution inside Myanmar. That’s the message given to (Myanmar) President Thein Sein and, at my level, to the foreign minister of Myanmar.
Given that Myanmar is the only Asean country that India shares a land border with, what are your expectations from New Delhi?
I hope India will support the process of reconciliation in Myanmar, swing behind Asean to engage with Myanmar more effectively, and that India would use its own political and diplomatic weight to convince the world that this is a case of positive developments that deserve support and recognition. India has enough political and diplomatic clout around the world.
The South China Sea dispute was another matter that dominated the meetings. What is your assessment of what has been achieved?
The important fact is that leaders got together and could express their views and the concerns in generalities, in principles — not in details because the details will have to be discussed somewhere else. We have established processes and mechanisms for that. But that they could talk about it, discuss and they could share their views, concerns and hopes is good. At this kind of forum, the leaders can exchange those views.
What about the economic front? Indian PM Manmohan Singh, for instance, spoke about closer economic cooperation within the region.
We are now trying to create a regional structure called Asean++, meaning we will welcome others to come into the process of free trade with us, not only through any particular mechanism but we will develop our own template, to be open for all to join. The US and Russia can come, the EU can come, but it will have Asean as the core.