By NNN-APP,
Beijing : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday sought pro-active support of the world community to fight terrorism, since it is a common enemy of all the peace-loving countries.
Addressing the plenary session of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) here, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani forcefully stated the terrorism is a serious problem that was affecting the very fabric of Pakistan’s society.
He briefed the 45-member world body on Pakistan’s position on terrorism and said his country was tackling it most seriously by various means in order to ensure peace and security at all levels.
He hoped the ASEM countries that represent diverse cultures and faiths would contribute to inter-faith harmony and culture understanding as a means to counter terrorism and militancy needs no emphasis.
The prime minister assured that Pakistan is prepared to contribute to further this objective together with its ASEM partners .
It was for the first time that Pakistan after getting formal admission addressed the Asia-Europe Meeting at the level of the Prime Minister .
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani thanked all the ASEM partners with whose support Pakistan had been able to join the high-profile forum.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan considers ASEM a vital forum for dialogue and cooperation between the two continents.
He said “Pakistan enjoys cooperative partnership with both Asian and European countries, while European Union is our largest trading partner, our ‘Vision East Asia’ policy endeavours to develop multi-dimensional ties with the countries of Asia-Pacific region.
“Between themselves, ASEM countries represent almost 58 per cent of the world’s population and 50 per cent of its GDP, nearly 32 trillion dollars”, the Prime Minister noted.
He said this combined wealth and strength provides an opportunity to assert their efforts to meet multiple challenges from terrorism to climate change and food security to energy security.
The global financial crisis is a new challenge, Prime Minister Gilani said, adding it is being described as the worst financial crisis since the “Great depression” of the 1930s.
He said that while developed countries are mobilizing hundreds of billions of dollars to support their financial institutions, developing countries are sinking deeper into the poverty trap.
Hunger has increased affecting close to 900 million people worldwide, the Prime Minister said.
He said that if financial crisis was not handled carefully, the situation can transform into a global recession affecting countries like Pakistan whose 50 per cent external trade is with the US and EU.
The financial crisis, he said could not have come at a worst time for net food and fuel impacting countries like Pakistan that are facing a rising trade deficit due to high food and fuel prices.
In the short term, he said, the international community should take action to stop the free fall of financial markets; overcome uncertainty and restore the investors confidence and protect the growth and development gains from going waste in developing countries.
The Prime Minister emphasized that in the medium and long term, a holistic approach is needed to deal with this situation.
He said “in our view the , the answer does not lie in more protectionism but greater trade and enhanced investment flow all across Asia and Europe, especially from developed rich to developing poor.”
The Prime Minister said that development assistance, especially concessional financing and investment together with technology transfer is vital to avoid further instability coupled with the reform of international financial system.
The Prime Minister emphasized that without global compact of collective and coordinated response, we will not be able to deal with these issues.
Highlighting the importance of Asia, the Prime Minister said that the centre of global economy is now shifting to this part of the world..
The Prime Minister said that Asia is EU’s second largest trading partner, accounting for 21 per cent of EU’s total exports, with major thrust of trade with ASEM partners namely ASEAN-10 and North East and South Asian countries.
He said that Asia and EU are also important investment partners, adding that Asia-Europe commercial ties are thus of critical importance for the prosperity of both regions.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan is in the process of developing infrastructure to serve as a regional hub between China, the Middle East, Central Asia and South West Asia.
Pakistan, Prime Minister Gilani said has developed a deep sea-port Gwadar to serve as a trans-shipment point for the region.
He said that his country is already linked through road with China.
Plans to enhance regional connectivity through road and rail links, oil and gas pipelines, optic fiber links are being discussed with our regional partners, he added.
Prime Minister Gilani pointed out that Pakistan would like ASEM to promote enhanced connectivity between Europe and Asia.
The concept of soft borders has provided dividends to Europe, the Prime Minister said and added that this can also be done in Asia linking Europe with Asia.