As he addressed the participants of the Fourth Astana Economic Forum in Kazakhstan, Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia, founding chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and chairman of CDI Asia Pacific, said that in order to achieve equal footing with current world leaders, Asian countries must build strong partnerships and enhance its sense of community.

Addressing participants of the Fourth Astana Economic Forum in Kazakhstan, De Venecia said that while it may be difficult to achieve, given that Asia is the world’s biggest continent with 37 separate countries with varying cultures and ideals, integration and building one unified continent is not an impossible task.

“Of course, this ascent of Asia we all anticipate will depend down on continuing rapprochement and reconciliation among our countries; the success if our efforts to damp down religious and ideological radicalism; and the continuation of the overall stability that has underwritten our Continent’s economic growth so far,” he said.

The former House Speaker explained the crucial role of Central Asia as the bridge between the East and the West and the part it plays in the world economy. However, he said that countries in Asia are only now beginning to understand the balance of economic power, and is seeking to manage resources evenly and wisely to achieve the same level as other advanced continents.

“Economically, globalization is integrating national and regional economies by speeding up the cross-border flow of goods and services, capital, and even labor,” he said. “And if globalization is well managed, it should give poor countries equal access to rich-country markets, allow the free movement of investment capital – and result in cheaper prices, and higher living standards for everyone.”

“Mutually, beneficial economic ties are the most solid, most durable, foundations of stable security relationships,” he added. “Globalization is embedding all the global heavyweights – not just the United States, Russia, the European Union and Japan but also China, Brazil, India; Argentina, Mexico, and Pakistan; Indonesia; Australia, South Korea; Nigeria and South Africa – in dense networks of economic, political and security relationships that serve their mutual interests.”

For Asia, De Venecia acknowledged that achieving the concept of “One Asia” will not be built in a day or as part of an overall design. He explained that it is a gradual process that will start with finding common ground that will create a sense of common purpose.