THE Mekong region is to be given special assistance by its wealthier neighbours to counter concerns that a rich-poor divide could emerge within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Announcing plans for a Mekong development fund and action plan, Singapore Foreign Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar said yesterday it was vital for Asean's unity to 'ensure there is no divide between newer and older members'.
This weekend's Singapore summit was the first in 32 years to be attended by foreign ministers of all 10 Southeast Asian nations as full Asean members, after Cambodia's controversial admittance in April.
Having fulfilled the long-held dream of Asean's founding fathers of linking all 10 countries, foreign ministers now want to fast-track greater integration.
Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said: 'We can no longer afford to compete amongst ourselves, and with the outside world.
'Our development must be balanced, integrating the economies of the new members with the relatively more developed markets of the original members.' Asean foreign ministers also said in a summit communique they had agreed to push ahead with plans for a code of conduct governing the disputed Spratly Islands in the oil-rich South China Sea.
A working group will convene in Thailand in October to finalise the plan, which envisages co-operation on practical matters such as navigation and search and rescue missions, and possibly joint oil exploration and development, to ease the risks of conflict between member-state claimants Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. China also claims the islands.