In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, just before the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) was officially inaugurated, Ramos said, " Events and trends worldwide make it clear our countries must seek greater economic integration and political solidarity."

Looking excited and happy, Ramos, who is also one of the major initiators of the BFA, told Xinhua that the founding of BFA is a successful first step towards "a better and modern Asia," and the BFA will become one of the most important international organizations in less than 10 years.

"The idea of an Asian forum where Asians and their friends from other parts of the world can discuss Asian concerns in an Asian setting is an idea whose time has come," he said.

"We are here together because we know in all faith that our region is pregnant with great possibilities."

He stressed the "glorious diversity, rich cultures and basic values, dynamism and creativity" of Asian countries, saying that all these will help build a better future for its people.

He told Xinhua that Asian countries need to act in concert, to assert Asia's point of view in the ongoing international debate on globalization and to be more integrated in order to prevent the development gap from generating regional discord.

According to Ramos, a forum in which all the Asian states are represented will help to prevent, manage and resolve disputes in the region without having to involve powers from outside the continent.

He noted that although Asia already has on the ground many forums similar in intent to the BFA, none of them can match the quality of the brain power and the diplomatic experience the BFA has gathered.

He viewed the presence of Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Vice-Premier Qian Qichen at the inauguration ceremony of the BFA as a signal of China's wholehearted endorsement of the forum idea.

Ramos said China is taking "particularly significant" initiatives in this forum, and he thinks China's early and full engagement in the regional order on an equitable basis will benefit all Asian countries.

"Today, we are all happy witnesses to see the idea that an opportunity for one could become an opportunity for all, with everyone becoming a winner," he said, referring to the launching of the BFA.

However, he pointed out, the forum's future will depend on the quality of the ideas it is able to generate, especially on how the Asian states can organize peace and prosperity for their peoples.

"Unifying forces are at work, growing economic interdependence may not automatically guarantee peace and stability, but its does create an incentive for avoiding conflicts by raising their costs, " Ramos said.

(People's Daily 02/27/2001)