The panel members were asked to exchange opinions on “free trade and the rising tide of protectionism” at the International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo organized by Nikkei Inc. On the emergence of protectionism Surin Pitsuwan former secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said he harbors “a sense of tremendous concern” for global development.

The negative impact he said could hit not only East and Southeast Asia but “really the global economy and the well-being of the global community as a whole.”

In the past those who resisted globalization tended to hail from the developing world Surin said. But that has changed: “We have learned to tame the force of globalization to [suit] our own interest. We have accommodated it and we have somehow made use of it in order to solve our own problems our poverty.”

Today he said the anti-globalization sentiment is setting in on “the other side of the equation from where globalization started.” To counter such trends in the U.S. and Europe “I think the countries of East Asia the countries of the Indo-Pacific region the countries of Southeast Asia will have to come together” to pool strengths and “integrate ourselves.”

He stressed the need for regional integration not only in the fields of trade and investment but also other areas such as energy and labor.

China for its part is pushing its Belt and Road Initiative which is aimed at creating an expansive economic zone. Through infrastructure improvements and other projects this program will help foster closer economic ties between countries and enhance growth said Li Xiangyang director of the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The Belt and Road will contribute to filling “the gap left by the U.S.” Li said. At the same time he said China’s economy “has been integrated with the global value chain.”

The protectionism espoused by U.S. President Donald Trump the experts agreed is a concern for Asian nations collectively. “China and Asian countries share common interests in addressing protectionism” Li said.

There was also agreement that Asia’s deepening integration should work to counter the trend. Rajesh Chadha senior fellow at the National Council of Applied Economic Research in India stressed the need for Asian countries to promote cooperation to wield greater influence on the U.S. “The 21st century is our century” he said. “This is the century that belongs to Asia.”

Published in: NIKKEI Asian Review , 05 Jun 2017