- First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Frank Jurgen Richter, Founder and Chairman of the Horasis: The Global Visions Community for inviting me to this meeting. I would also like to extend my cordial greetings and best wishes to all, the distinguished panelists and fellow participants, and friends from media. The topic, why Asia is the champion of globalization, is timely and relevant, because it comes at a time when coronavirus has made the world look inward.
- The world benefitted from globalization, and Asia has benefitted immensely from globalization. Nepal’s neighbours China and India have been its major beneficiaries. Their arrival at the global top table has made huge impact on politics, economy, and security. Today, they stand on the forefront of producing notable innovations, creating global chains supply, and enhancing connectivity network. The rise of China followed by India has been the most important geopolitical development of our time. Therefore Nepal can take the advantage from both the countries.
- Globalization remains one of the defining realities of our time. It has been increasingly marked by interconnected and interdependent world. Nations have enjoyed greater wealth, become healthier under the international rule based order. In globalized world, nations’ destinies have come to be intertwined. No longer can countries develop in complete isolation. Nations seek transfer of capital, technology, knowledge from each other, and they have become reliant on each other.
- In a globalized world, the borders are marked greater flows of workers, tourists, ideas, emails, oil, and gas. Even drugs, illicit drugs, infectious diseases, and terrorists do not remain confined within national frontiers. Even viruses, climate change and financial contagion originated in one country have travelled a long distance in this interdependent and interconnectedness. No walls, Oceans, deserts can isolate a country from the consequences of globalization.
- Mobility has been there since time immemorial. Globalization facilitated the movements of people across the national/international borders more easily. This has made the world more diverse, multiethnic, multilingual, and multicultural. Unity in diversity has been the salient feature of our time, demanding harmony, tolerance, amidst diversity. The internet technology has made communication easier and cheaper, brought the community together, and brought the world together. Countries need to work together to address problems of globalization including but not limited to transnational challenges like climate change, trade, proliferation of arms.
- As we discuss the importance of globalization here, and at the difficult time of confronting the devastating impact of coronavirus, there are many people discussing about the adverse effects of globalization. We often hear people attributing the present day ills to globalization. This has raised questions like has globalization a future any more especially at a time when there is increasing inequality and widening gap between haves and haves not. As covid19 has shattered socio-economic and political life across the world, what would be the fate of the globalization in this interconnected and interdependent world? Globalization is also seen in some quarters to be a threat to local identity and culture, difficult for small businesses. Nations are inclined to be inward looking, practicing protectionism, nationalism, and populism gaining ground and democracy receding. Conflicts within and across borders are being witnessed.
- I commend the Horasis for hosting this meeting focusing on this very relevant agenda and discussing how Asia is being impacted. I think this meeting could synthesize the views expressed and disseminate them widely for the good of larger audience. To me, it seems that globalization is a reality and we have to learn to respond to various dimensions of globalization.
I thank you and wish the meeting all success.