Why not have a United States of Asia? -- Ban ki Moon

'Why not have a United States of Asia?'
November 7, 2007

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Tuesday said although Asia was the world’s largest continent having the biggest population and the fastest growing economy, the role of Asians in international affairs had been far less that it could have been.…Moon noted in his address that there are many reasons why the continent's role in international affairs had been less than the potential.

"We are the only continent where the original integration and common markets have not taken hold," Ban said.

"Latin Americans and North Americans dream of creating a free trade zone, a United States of the America. Europeans and the European Union speak of building a United States of Europe if I may call it. The African Union now speaks of becoming a United States of Africa," he noted.

"Why is there no United States of Asia? Then we will have three new USAs," Ban said amid laughter. Ban himself gave the answer.

"There are many reasons -- history, cultural diversity, unresolved territorial and political disputes, lack of multilateral experience and a predominance of one or two centers of power. But the main reason is that we have not tried," Ban said.
Earlier, Richard C Holbrooke, chairman of the Asia Society, in his introductory remarks announced the official opening of the Korea center in Seoul in April 2008.
"Ban Ki Moon was an early supporter of a stronger of Asia Society presence in Korea, so it seems especially fitting that we are announcing the new Asia Society Korea Center with him at tonight’s event," Holbrooke said.

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