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Sponsored by the Chosun Ilbo, the Asian Leadership Conference, attended by leaders and corporate CEOs from the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, got under way in Seoul on Thursday. With major figures like former Japanese prime minister Nakasone Yasuhiro, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammad, former Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri, former New Zealand prime minister Jim Bolger, former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger and ASEAN General Secretary Ong Keng Yong participating, opinions about the challenges and opportunities of the Asian Era were varied and consistently interesting. For leading figures from the region to sit down in one spot to discuss all of Asia¡¯s problems with civilian sponsorship is in itself deeply significant.
The eyes of the world are on Asia, the most rapidly growing region in the world. Japan, China and Korea are three of the world¡¯s largest economies. The more fundamental reason why the world is paying attention to Asia is its astounding potential. The keyword from the Davos World Economic Forum earlier this year was ¡°Chindia,¡± a combination of the words ¡°China¡± and ¡°India.¡± Experts say that if these two nations, which account for two fifths of the world¡¯s population, continue to grow at their current rates, it will change the world¡¯s economic map beyond recognition before too long.
The challenges Asia faces are also great. The tensions between Japan and China are approaching a dangerous level. If the tensions between these two great powers continue to the point where there could be a clash at the slightest slip-up, it would force surrounding nations to make difficult choices. But the immediate task is how to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
Whether or not we are really going to see an ¡°Asian age¡± in the near future depends on whether the region¡¯s nations choose to cooperate or whether they choose to clash. At this juncture, the Asian Leadership Conference is vital because it calls for a continuation of the cooperation and spirit of solidarity shown by Asian nations during the tsunami disaster in South Asia.
It goes without saying that Korea¡¯s future also depends on a clear reading of the vision of the Asian age and on plotting our course with care. The country must awaken to the fact that as the age of Asian unity begins, Korea - located as it is between Japan and China - occupies the prime spot to take a leading role. The Asian Leadership Conference is an important gathering exploring our future with that vision in mind.
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