ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said on Tuesday that Asia must not look towards the West for solution to its problems.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a meeting of the Special Committee for Creation of Asian Parliament (SCCAP) and Standing Committee on Political Affairs of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), he said the West had always used the region for its own interests.

Mr Rabbani said the region was blessed with resources, but it always faced internal problems and conflicts.

More than 70 parliamentarians from 23 countries are participating in the five-day meeting, hosted by the Senate.

The Senate chairman suggested that Asia should look within itself and decide about its own destiny as white racism and Western imperialism would not solve its problems.

“Parliamentarians of Asia sitting here represent the people who are undernourished, object of poverty and victim of terrorism. If we are unable to find a solution to problems of our own people, history will not forgive us.”

He said the rise of white racism was a threat to the Asian region and the continent must counter this threat and look for its own destiny.

He said the people of Asia would lose hope in their parliaments if the current generation failed to rise up to their expectations.

He, however, said that challenges faced by Asia should not be brushed under the carpet.

“Asia today stands as the most disturbed region in the world, from the Middle East crises to the rise of Daesh [the militant Islamic State group] and the issue of South East Asia, but let us not forget that democracies don’t fight with each other,” the Senate chairman said.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq termed Asia the engine of global economy because it nourished the largest population of the world and was contributing heavily to United Nations Peacekeeping missions.

“The balance of power has now shifted from the West to East due to which it is the Asian century and Pakistan strategically lies in the middle of it,” he said.

Bhutan National Assembly Speaker Lyonpo Jigme Zangpo said that diversity had always been the mass code of Asia and fragmentation of the continent would hamper cooperation.

“The political landscape is changing; hence we should work for a common vision and collaboration. The SCCAP committee must represent collaborated interests and commitment and symbolise unity in sharing our resources,” he said.

The Speaker of People’s Assembly of Syrian Parliament, Dr Hadiyeh Abbas, stressed cooperation among countries of the region.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2017