Asean leaders call for bold actions

This unified position came out of the Asean Summit's morning retreat when the grouping's 10 leaders discussed economic and financial stability.

"Each leader has something to say on the current economic crisis. They shared similar views on what Asean can do," said a source attending the retreat.

Both Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono will join the G-20 summit in London on April 2 to convey Asean's views on the global economic and financial crisis.

The Asean leaders agreed that the region's overall economic health remains sound thanks to the significant structural reforms undertaken in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

But they expressed concern that the current global economic downturn would put a damper on trade, investment and economic growth in the region.

In a separate statement on the global economic and financial crisis, the Asean leaders stressed their firm stance against protectionism and pledged to refrain from introducing and raising new barriers to trade. They also reaffirmed their determination to ensure a free flow of goods, services and investment and to facilitate the movement of businessmen and professionals.

They welcomed the agreement of the Asean+3 financial ministers to expand the Chiang Mail Initiative Multilateralisation from US$80 billion (Bt2.9 trillion) to $120 billion and called for all concerned countries to expedite its operation.

The Asean leaders emphasised the importance of deepening Asean integration to maintain the region's resilience while remaining open to global and regional trade.

Since the global financial meltdown, each Asean country has pursued a stimulus package according to its domestic economic situation.

As the summit's chair, Abhisit was told that to sustain the jobs and incomes of low- and middle-income groups was the top priority.

"We agreed that counter-cyclical and more coordinated macroeconomic policies are the appropriate response to contain the ongoing global financial crisis, " Abhisit said in his statement at the end of the retreat.

The retreat, which lasted for two-and-a-half hours, also touched on wide-ranging problems including food and energy security and regional and international issues. The situation in Burma and the plight of the Rohingyas were also discussed.

On Burma, Abhisit said the Asean leaders urged the Burmese government to facilitate the national reconciliation process, which must be "inclusive".

The release of political detainees and the inclusion of all political parties in the process before the scheduled 2010 election would contribute significantly to the national reconciliation process, he said.

To address the international community's concerns over Burma, the Asean leaders collectively underscored the necessity for the Burmese government to engage and cooperate actively with the UN Secretary General's special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights.

The retreat took up the Rohingya issue as well illegal migrants in the Indian Ocean, according to the sources. The participants agreed that it was important to address cooperation among countries of origin, transit and destination as well as discuss the problem within a larger context such as the contact group of affected countries and the ongoing Bali process.