KUALA
LUMPUR, November 4 (IslamOnline) - Business and political leaders
hailed a new era of cooperation between China and the ASEAN region
with a breakthrough solution agreed on arms conflict and the
endorsement of major development plans along the Mekong river that
will bring highways, power grids and telecommunications to the region.
The
parties agreed to further cooperation ahead of the 8th ASEAN summit in
the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Several political leaders,
including Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines and Thailand’s
Thaksin Shinawatra hailed the agreements, news agencies reported
Monday, November 4.
Five
Asian nations agreed with China to develop the Mekong river sub-region
when the six leaders from these countries endorsed the development
projects Sunday, November 3.
However,
the signature was criticized by environmental activists who said they
fear an environmental disaster may be looming across the Mekong river
affecting countries grouped in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).
Nearly
500 environmental and human rights activists have gathered in the
Cambodian capital to debate and criticize.
The
GMS, launched a decade ago to bolster trade and promote development,
comprises Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and China's Yunnan
province.
These
countries are also members of the Association of South East Asian
Nations (ASEAN) which groups the following countries Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. The Asian Development Bank, the
major funder, also took part.
Opening
the summit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned that the Mekong
was under increasing pressure “because of our common dependence on
its riches'', the Nation newspaper from Bangkok reports.
A
joint summit declaration said: “Our vision is of a GMS that fulfills
its vast potential, freeing people from poverty and providing
sustainable development for all.”
However
activists said the local people had enough of development that does
not take into consideration and do not respect the style of living of
the “river-based livelihood of the people.
The
Fisheries Action Coalition Team a non-governmental organization based
in Cambodia said: “Billions of dollars are being spent or budgeted
to alleviate poverty but they seem to be doing the opposite.''
“We
see the signs of such stress in erosion, siltation and changes in
water currents,'' the group leader said.
Leaders
at the one-day meeting, ahead of the ASEAN summit that starts on
Monday 4th
