ASEAN leaders for phasing out of economic stimulus measures

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HANOI, April 9 (AFP): Southeast Asian leaders called today for vital road, sea and air links to be built more quickly to speed economic recovery and boost the region’s competitiveness.
In a statement at the close of a two-day summit, they also pledged greater efforts in the development of information and communications technology as well as in the energy sector.
“We re-affirm the importance of regional infrastructure development and enhancing connectivity that will play a crucial role in achieving sustainable global economic recovery through enhanced trade, investment, tourism and development,” the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said.
Infrastructure development will help develop the region’s “connectivity” and reinforce the bloc’s position “as a hub of the East Asian region for transport, information technology, tourism, energy and logistics.”
“We task the relevant ministers... to expedite the completion of the vital physical road, rail, air, inland waterways, sea, gas and power linkages within ASEAN,” leaders of the 10-member bloc said.
Vietnam, the current chair of ASEAN’s revolving leadership, has made connectivity a key issue during its one-year tenure.
Analysts say the physical and telecommunication links will complement ASEAN’s efforts to tear down trade barriers and help its goal of establishing by 2015 a single market and manufacturing base of about 600 million people.
A regional effort to link a series of undersea natural gas pipelines has yet to be realised largely because of funding problems—the same woes that have beset plans for a railway line running from Singapore to Myanmar.