Protectionism a threat to prosperity

Asia-Pacific MPs must lead in push for free trade: Speaker Abdullah

By Kor Kian Beng

AS THE global economy gets back on its feet, countries in the region face a threat that can derail their continued prosperity, said Singapore's Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi yesterday.

The threat is protectionism, and he urged about 300 MPs from almost 30 Asia-Pacific countries to play a leading role in guarding against it.

'Parliamentarians can play an important role by helping to lead and manage domestic sentiments, standing firm against xenophobic attitudes and supporting policies which pursue trade liberalisation even in difficult times.

'Doing so would allow the Asia-Pacific region to better seize opportunities created by globalisation and to ensure that benefits of inclusive growth are spread more wisely,' said Mr Abdullah at an international meeting in Singapore of MPs.

The need to fight climate change and inculcate the Asia-Pacific identity among the young was also highlighted by the Speaker in his opening address at the 18th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) at the Suntec Convention Centre.

The five-day, closed-door forum of parliamentarians from 27 Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, China and the United States, will discuss global and regional issues.

These include the global economic situation, promotion of trade liberalisation and sustainable development.

The forum was founded in 1993 to deepen regional identity, mutual understanding and cooperation through dialogues.

Singapore is hosting it for the first time, although the APPF held its first preparatory meeting in the country in August 1991.

In his speech, Mr Abdullah pointed to the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit held in Singapore, where leaders of 21 economies reaffirmed their commitment to free trade and to 're-energise' economic integration.

In the same vein, he said, the APPF could contribute significantly towards integration efforts in the region.

'We, as parliamentarians, can contribute to this goal by taking a larger view of the region's interests beyond national and domestic considerations.'

However, MPs must also ensure that economic growth remains consistent with sustainable development, he said, pinpointing climate change as one of the biggest global challenges that will have an impact on everyone.

He said: 'The political will to combat challenges of climate change is indispensable to sustainable development. It is balancing this with the need for economic growth which we, as parliamentarians, have to deal with.'

Mr Abdullah said the Copenhagen Accord, which emerged from a global climate change summit in the Danish capital last month, was not a perfect document, but it would act as a foundation for further negotiations towards an international agreement on tackling climate change.

On the young, Mr Abdullah said MPs should engage them in regionwide activities and promote regional sentiments, so that people-to-people linkages can be established early and remain deeply rooted.

The APPF participants called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana yesterday afternoon.

Mr Sergey Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, who is in Singapore for the APPF, will call separately on President S R Nathan and Mr Abdullah today and PM Lee tomorrow.