More than just the Asian century

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By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-14 16:08

On Saturday, July 11 US President Barack Obama gave a 30 minute address to the Parliament of Ghana pledging assistance to the African continent. It followed on from a speech at the New Economic School in Moscow during the week and one at Cairo University a month earlier. In the same vein it can also be placed alongside his briefer video post to the Iranian people prior to their election.

Though he is being criticized, no more vehemently than back at home, one should appreciate the energy and vitality Brand Obama embodies and the value driven momentum he has set in play. The above actions combined, suggest to me that the best of the west has yet to come. It also signifies that this must truly be more than just the Asian century.

This renaissance in multi-lateralism, which Obama is galvanizing, bears resemblance in part to the route Brand China has quietly been treading over recent times. Brokering deals across old Party lines and on all continents, it's a multi-pronged strategy that has universal reach and relevance to today's demands.

Last month here in Beijing, New Zealand's former Prime Minister Jenny Shipley spoke about this phenomenon and how China has inadvertently become a figure head for the developing world, reluctantly representing 5 billion people on issues ranging from the economy to the environment. She claimed China had challenged the traditional "aid model" with a more pragmatic "development model" and in the process been creating economic allies.

Obama's speech in Ghana reflected upon such matters and called out for better capacity building on the continent. In a dream world I would think this could be another platform for greater US-China collaboration in addition to today's agenda of commerce and energy.

Shipley also mentioned the tectonic shift that was taking place amid the global financial crisis, with a repositioning of greater wealth towards Asia. But to her mind it represented eye sparkling opportunity! Not one to rest on her laurels, she now sits on the board of the China Construction Bank, in addition to being a member of the Club of Madrid.

Remembering approximately 1/5th of the New Zealand population is working abroad, Shipley said we need to be more confident in the quest to find new frontiers and markets, to look beyond our own back yards and adapt. She began her career as a teacher before moving into politics.

A self confessed 'observer of megatrends' she said the context cried out for more "thought leaders" and in this regard reading through the recent speech transcripts of Obama I feel he fits the bill.

With him at the helm suggestions or fears that the 21st will be the Asian century are too presumptuous. If anything, present developments in communications technology and commerce point towards more of a convergence of diversity.

More worryingly Asia needs to come of age and better formulate security policy. It's a costly burden the US has been carrying for over six decades. And if the US incrementally were to step back now, how would a new Cold War, for spheres of influence in the region, be avoided?

Learning to master such collaboration and competition, that advances the betterment of livelihoods beyond one's own shores, nevertheless is the call of the day.

Stepping into the fray, hands on their holsters, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke arrive into China today for a four day visit.

Like the cowboy classic High Noon, these two Chinese-Americans sit in a saddle where the spurs are a spinning, the horses are a whinnying and the soundtrack building to a climatic crescendo.

Last week's G8 was something of a meltdown; let's see if G2 has a little more substance. "Do not forsake me oh my darling…"

Author's note: Do not forsake me oh my darling is the theme song to the 1953 film High Noon, a movie about courage and doing the right thing during testing times