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Globalization has been a complex and uneven process. Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region have reaped substantial benefits, but many others, particularly the least developed, have been left behind. The fundamental vision of the United Nations Millennium Declaration is that better management of globalization is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. This study examines the state of globalization and regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacifc region, focusing on four areas that are the key driving forces in globalization.
  • Trade
  • Finance
  • Transport
  • Information and communication technology

The study explores how regional cooperation in these areas can help to make globalization a positive force for all people. In the spirit of the Monterrey consensus, it reviews a number of recent initiatives: the growing array of preferential trade agreements, the Asian Bond Market proposals, the Digital Solidarity Agenda, the Asian Highway and the Trans-Asian Railway. The study poses the questions: Can the European Union model work for Asia-Pacific integration? How can better synergy be achieved by regional cooperation arrangements such as ASEAN, ASEAN+3, ECO, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and SAARC? How can regional cooperation help countries to integrate with the global economy? In this way the study guides stakeholders to address the policy dilemmas in managing globalization.

Globalization has been a complex and uneven process. Several
countries in the Asia-Pacific region have reaped substantial
benefits, but many others, particularly the least developed, have
been left behind. The fundamental vision of the United Nations
Millennium Declaration is that better management of globalization
is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. This
study examines the state of globalization and regional cooperation
in the Asia-Pacifc region, focusing on four areas that are the
key driving forces in globalization.
- Trade
- Finance
- Transport
- Information and communication technology
The study explores how regional cooperation in these areas can
help to make globalization a positive force for all people. In the
spirit of the Monterrey consensus, it reviews a number of recent
initiatives: the growing array of preferential trade agreements, the
Asian Bond Market proposals, the Digital Solidarity Agenda, the
Asian Highway and the Trans-Asian Railway.
The study poses the questions: Can the European Union model
work for Asia-Pacific integration? How can better synergy be
achieved by regional cooperation arrangements such as ASEAN,
ASEAN+3, ECO, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and
SAARC? How can regional cooperation help countries to integrate
with the global economy?
In this way the study guides stakeholders to address the policy
dilemmas in managing globalization.

Contact
Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division +66 2 288-1234 [email protected]