Pornchai Danvivathana, Secretary General of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue spoke to Harici: “BRICS has achieved a lot including ASEAN, where I came from. Because I came from Thailand.”
With 35 members, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is known as Asia’s most widely participatory dialogue and consultative forum.
The ACD, an international organisation established in 2002 to promote cooperation among Asian countries and help integrate different regional organisations such as ASEAN, SAARC and the Gulf Cooperation Council, has six pillars of cooperation: “connectivity”, “science, technology and innovation”, “education and human resource development”, “food, energy and water security relationship”, “culture and tourism”, “promoting inclusive and sustainable development”.
Dr. Pornchai Danvivathana, Secretary General of the ACD, answered our questions on cooperation mechanisms in the Global South, connectivity among international organisations, and the competition between Asian and Western organisations.
You are the first international organization to cover the whole of Asia. The rapid rise of Asia in social, economic, technological, etc. fields has turned the world’s attention to this geography. How do you evaluate the cooperation platforms in Asia? Can more initiative organizations be established in the region?
I think it’s on the rise because in terms of interdependence, when one needs others, in especially, to tackle transboundary issues or new challenges, I think, this is the platform for dialogue and also to promote diplomacy as the theme of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
Some regional organizations such as ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Organization are often in the middle of the US-China rivalry. Do you agree with this assessment? How should regional organizations be positioned in the context of multipolarity and multilateralism?
Well, whether you define it as rivalry or not, I would like to look at it as competition which is always every corner of the world. When we have cooperation, of course, we do have competition at the same time. This is not a bad idea because if you would like to look in the aspect of economy, you could see for yourself that we promote competitiveness and also we consider comparative advantage as part of factors that could help promote competition with others. In that case, I think whichever country would like to contribute or to be involved with others, I see it as positive sign; because if we would like to promote partnership, it starts from scratch. You cannot expect any huge contribution without anything in return.
Comparisons are often made between organizations based in Asia and the Global South, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and Western-based organizations such as the G20 and the European Union. Can these organizations be alternatives to each other? Is cooperation between Western and Eastern-based international organizations possible?
Yes, it is also possible. In fact, I’m a lawyer by training. If you look into the UN Charter which promotes regional arrangements as an a mechanism or instrument to promote peace and security, then sub-regional or regional mechanisms like ASEAN, BRICS, ACD (Asia Cooperation Diaologue) could play a very vital role in promoting peace and security including diplomacy as Türkiye has been pushing forward.
How do you evaluate Turkey’s Asia Anew Initiative? How can this initiative be utilized more actively?
I personally and officially welcome this approach since the beginning because it’s a kind of approach that some or many countries has been focusing on. Look, the building blocks for countries in Asia to promote cooperation and also partnership. And the ACD is one among others. When ACD itself has been serving as a platform for dialogue to promote cooperation on non-political issues. So, I do believe that the approach of Türkiye is complement and supplement to the vision and also values of the ACD.
How would you evaluate China’s Belt and Road initiative in terms of connectivity in Asia? On the one hand, it is criticized because it’s causing some debts to the countries which are involved. On the other hand, it’s very productive. So, it’s a little bit complicated. Please give a detailed take on this.
In fact, this kind of question was the question that media in China asked me last year. My reaction to that is as follows: First and foremost, connectivity is one of the prioritized areas of the ACD. When it comes to connectivity the Belt and Road Initiative is one that help narrow the Missing link. We cannot deny that. ACD vision also mentioned about the Belt and Road initiative, however, it happens that some might see it in a negative way. As Secretary General, I think that the best way to look at it is to look at the overall picture and for advantage or disadvantage that some countries may have been facing as regard to the Belt and Road Initiative. It’s for the countries to concern, to discuss with China to how this can be settled. It’s not for me to question or to comment on it but as far as the ACD is concerned, the Belt and Road Initiative has been recognized as one of the mechanism that helps make connectivity within the ACD work in a positive way.
The rivalry between China and India is being discussed recently as two huge powers in Asian world. Do you think this rivalry is actually heping be more productive regarding the other countries’ contribution in this cumulative economy? Or are they taking more than their fair share?
I’m aware of bilateral conflicts between or among countries, not only in Asia but also elsewhere. It happens all the time. Some may call it rivalry, some may call it conflict. But the ACD is a window of opportunity for member countries of 35, all together to discuss and pave the way to avoid conflicts and also to reduce rivalry in whichever way. So far, since 2002 up to now, we have been proven that it’s a useful platform. So, with regard to bilateral relations, that could be set aside as far as the ACD is concerned. That is why we discuss anything but politics. We are a non-political platform.
A very well-known economist based in London, Timothy Ash, told me “What did BRICS achieve?” in an interview. There is an approach claiming that the eastern economical alliances can never compete with the western ones. What do you think about BRICS and what do you think about this western approach?
It depends on your perspective and how you look at issues and where you stand. That is my first point. And secondly, in my view nothing is impossible. If you talk about East-West cooperation or inter-regional cooperation, I think that is what the ACD is for. Because we promote regional, sub-regional and also international cooperation within the ACD context. And we try to offer ourselves as again a window of opportunity for countries of 35 to explore the way forward and work together.
What would be your response if I ask you what has BRICS achieve up to now?
Well, I think, it has achieved a lot including ASEAN, where I came from. Because I came from Thailand. Yes, it might take some time or a lot of time but over the years we have established not only cooperation but also people to people connectivity or understanding. That’s what I would like to underline. We cannot do without public diplomacy and this is one of the rational that might help ACD sustain.
I’m sure you are aware of Zangezur Corridor which is trying to be built in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh connecting the road and railway to Türkiye. It is going to connect a new trade logistic route. How do you think Zangezur Corridor can contribute to regional peace and Asia’s economic growth?
No doubt about it. Because, for me, myself, without consulting my member states, I would say that connectivity should not be limited only within the ACD but also beyond. As we would like to promote not only institutional connectivity but also people to people. And when it comes to people, it goes beyond. In my understanding, connectivity knows no borders. But how to make sure that it fits the requirements of each and every country, that’s another issue. I respect, of course, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each and every nation that is why it has to be discussed and also explored.
Regarding Zangezur Corridor, you say that it should be respectful to Armenia’s border and territorial integrity. Is that right?
This is something that we need to be mindful of, but of course as a diplomat, I think nothing is carved on stone. We can discuss and explore and of course, come to a solution which is amicable or acceptable to all.
Lastly, do you want to say any word about the Türkiye’s growing initiative to be influential on Asia, especially Turkic world?
Not only that I appreciate the Asia Anew initiative but also I personally and officially appreciate how Türkiye decided to serve as ACD share for 2 years, especially when we are moving forward in the positive direction, however we faced Covid-19.
