Mr Goh said economic growth has also not caused Asia to turn away from the West, rather it has brought it even closer to the West. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

Giving a keynote address at a leadership conference in Seoul on Thursday, Mr Goh pointed out that changing the status quo need not be a zero sum game between Asia and the West.

'I see a new world order as consisting of truly equal and closely connected centres of power, with Asia playing an equal role alongside the US and Europe in shaping global institutions and norms and sharing responsibility in managing global challenges.'

Accomodate rising Asia
Mr Goh urged the West to give Asian powers a bigger stake in the international order.

He said international practices and institutions no longer reflected the real distribution of world power and could not meet global challenges and the aspirations of rising powers.

'As Asia grows, a reordering of global power structures and institutions is inevitable. The status quo must change.'

'Whether the West likes it or not, Asia will seek economic, political and even cultural influence commensurate with its growing economies.'

'The Asia that is rising in the 21st century is not the Asia that fell under Western dominance in previous centuries or one which is diametrically opposite in ideology.'

Mr Goh said the key East Asian historical dynamic over the past two centuries has been the effort to emulate the West, at least selectively, in order to hold its own with the West.

He said economic growth has also not caused Asia to turn away from the West, rather it has brought it even closer to the West.

'Asia sends more students to the US for studies than any other region. Many others go to Europe. Most of those return home as life-long admirers of Western ideals and systems, and go on to change their own societies by adapting the relevant aspects of these systems.'

'This is unlike the middle kingdom attitute of Qing Emperor Qianlong who told an envoy of King George III that China did not have the slightest need for England's manufacturers. The envoy had gone to establish diplomatic relations and trade ties.'

Role for Asia
Mr Goh also said Asia must play its part. 'How the international order evolves will also depend on how Asia responds and reacts to the West.'

'Asia has the responsibility to aviod the temptations of a simplistic triumphalism, to continue to learn from the West and take on a fair share of the burdens of managing and strengthening the international system that has enabled its sucess.'

Mr Goh was speaking at the second Asian Leadership Conference on 'Challenges for Asia'.

He noted that Asia's contribution to global GDP had doubled since 1980 to 36 per cent. This figure will rise to 45 per cent by 2020, he said.

'The current Permanent Members of the UN Security Council need to accept the fact that the inclusion of the rising powers .. would help enhance international stability and the relevance of the UN,' he said.

'Similarly, why, to take another example, should international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank only be run by European and American appointees?'

Global solutions needed
He stressed that the critical issues of our times like nuclear proliferation, terrorism and safeguarding the environment, can only be effectively managed with genuine collaboration among Asia, the US and Europe as well as mutual respect among all.

'To live peacefully in an increasingly globalised world and cope with the changes wrought by globalisation impels all of us to have a dose of humility and make pragmatic adjustments on the margins even to cherished values.'

'The growing intricacy of networks among countries makes regions too interpendent on one another for their well-being for any one region or country to dominate completely.'

He added, 'As responsible stakeholders, all the key players need to educate their populations on the growing economic, political and even cultural interdependence of nations. Should we succeed in this vision, Asia and the world, with their intertwined destinies, will see more peaceful and prosperous times.'

Click here  for SM Goh's full speech