Comments: A peaceful domestic and regional environment is the key to the development of SAARC.
Xinhuanet Beijing 65438+1October 6 (Reporter Ji Xinlong) On October 6, 2002, the 1 1 South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit ended in Kathmandu, Nepal. This is the first gathering of leaders of seven SAARC member countries in the new century, which has aroused widespread concern in the international community. Public opinion believes that this SAARC summit is a new opportunity for South Asian countries to further cooperate in the new century and improve the overall development level of this region.
SAARC was founded 16 years ago, with a prominent feature of promoting mutual cooperation among its member countries in the economic, social, cultural and scientific fields. All countries in South Asia are developing countries, and nearly 500 million people in this region still live in poverty. For SAARC, the most urgent task is to develop the economies of member countries and improve people's living standards.
However, for SAARC countries, economic development needs a peaceful domestic and regional environment. Due to ethnic, religious and social reasons, some SAARC member countries have frequent civil wars and social unrest; The constant friction and sometimes tense situation among some member countries have greatly restricted the economic cooperation among SAARC countries. The South Asia Free Trade Area, originally scheduled to be established in 200 1, has not yet been launched, and it is still far from the goal of eradicating poverty in South Asia by 2002.
To develop SAARC, the first thing is to stabilize the domestic situation of SAARC countries. The economic development level of South Asian countries is backward, the political situation in some countries is unstable, and ethnic contradictions and social inequalities are prominent in some countries. The change of regime in Pakistan and the bloody case in Nepal's royal palace postponed the summit scheduled for 1999. The civil war between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers has been going on for 18 years, with huge casualties and property losses and huge military expenditure seriously restricting the economic development; The rise of anti-government guerrillas in Nepal stems from the imbalance of social and economic development, which in turn further hinders economic development. The current general trend of international peace and development requires SAARC countries to take active measures to alleviate the imbalance of social and economic development, achieve national reconciliation, end chaos, conflict and civil war, and create conditions for economic development.
India and Pakistan are two important members of SAARC, and they are responsible for peace and stability in this region. The state of India-Pakistan relations greatly affects the future of SAARC. For half a century, the long-standing discord between India and Pakistan has affected the economic cooperation within SAARC. The conflict between India and Pakistan has many profound historical origins, such as territorial differences, war hatred and ethnic contradictions, which can never be achieved overnight. The international community generally hopes that India and Pakistan will exercise restraint, avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation, properly solve problems through dialogue and consultation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
During this SAARC meeting, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf shook hands with Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee twice, which brought a little peace to India-Pakistan relations that had been overcast for some time. I hope that with this meeting as a new starting point, South Asian countries, especially India and Pakistan, can put aside disputes, strengthen unity, enhance understanding and trust, and realize the will of SAARC member countries to build mutual trust, promote cooperation and move towards peaceful development. (End)
-
Make it up yourself