Asian powerhouse
A Mawaz Dhaka
China is fast emerging as Asia's future powerhouse, with Japan enjoying sunset years after being beholden to the rising sun in the West-- the United States. The next nation with a billion people is India, but it needs more time to take off and make its presence felt outside S Asia and in the West. China and India might compete in a friendly way, which is complementary rather than competitive. The basic idea is to keep the Asian trade confined mainly to the Asian countries, for two reasons: more long-term future business in the developing countries, and many of these countries have high density of population. Asia is self-sufficient in looking after billions of Asians. Those who exploited Asia for centuries can rest for a while! Chinese export goods are much cheaper, and the quality is improving fast. China is also able to offer technical assistance in mega projects in many fields, with expertise and services. EU is in the slow lane, and US impact on Islamic countries is eroding, due to indirect communal attitude and misconceptions. The US is mainly interested in the natural energy reserves anywhere in the world, and the gripe against Iraq and Iran have super-thin layers of diplomatic deception. The attack on poor Afghanistan was to open a sea route to CIS energy products to the sea. US secured a foothold in Pakistan, and now India is also under its umbrella. How much longer the poor Asians would continue to remain subservient to the West! It is a test for 'poor' Bangladesh, floating on gas, and with deep foundations of coal reserves (3.5 billion tons). Question: Tie-up with Asian friends or go West? Bangladesh has officially declared its look-East policy. Our EPZs have clicked (we need more modern ports). the layers of foundation have to be built up quickly, before the foreign non-Asian predators strike. Bangladesh is the ideal base for China for entry into South Asian market (1.5 billion consumers) through the Asian Highway (construction delayed too long). Bangladesh has cheap labour, (as in China), hence complementary development and cooperation projects may be examined for evaluation. China (machinery), Bangladesh (human resources) and Pakistan (cotton) can clothe a large percentage of the world's consumers; while English-knowing young Indians have captured the IT outsourcing market (Bangalore ICT business is estimated to rise from USD five billions to fifteen billions within a decade). Asia for Asians is not myopic stance. Asia is big, and can contribute to Asian prosperity for the next millennium, (looking at dying EU).
| 
