By DPA
Singapore : Southeast Asian countries were urged Tuesday to look to the European Union's "inspiring model" and integrate further in response to the growing strength of China and India.
Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo told a Europe Day celebration that the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) faces the danger of being left behind and a "source of instability in 21st century Asia."
Europe Day this year marks the 50th anniversary of European integration into a block with 493 million people.
Although ASEAN is "unlikely ever to reach the same level of integration as Europe… there are many aspects of the European construction which are relevant to our own," Yeo said.
Like the EU, ASEAN continues to be vigorous because of new challenges, Yeo said.
"In our case, the rise of China and India is the dominant challenge," Yeo noted. "If we do not integrate further and respond comprehensively to the growing strength of China and India, we will be left behind," Yeo told a gathering of officials from many of the European companies based in the city-state.
"We share a common interest in each other's regional integration," Yeo said.
A strong EU presence in ASEAN expands the regional grouping's manoeuvring space and offers more options, Yeo said, while a strong ASEAN friendly to the EU "gives you a major base in the fastest growing region in the world."
A meeting of EU and ASEAN economic ministers last week in Brunei decided to begin negotiations for an ASEAN-EU free trade pact.
Yeo said it is a "strategic move, which will bind us together."
ASEAN includes Singapore, Thailland, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma).