CATALYSTS OF CHANGE:  An Open Dialogue with the Legendary Leaders of Asia 1

Session 1: ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong and World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific James Adams

December 20/21, 2007

It is not everyday that we come across an opportunity to discuss the future of Asia with the very leaders who laid the foundation for its economic success. For over 300 young leaders from 12 countries across the Asia Pacific region, this became a reality through the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN).

“Catalysts of Change – An Open Dialogue with the Legendary Leaders of Asia” opened on December 20/21, 2007 with an overview of the region’s record given by ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong (right) and World Bank East Asia Pacific Regional Vice President Jim Adams (left).

“No region in the world has done what East Asia has done…. in the 80s and early 90s this was summed up in the phrase the East Asian miracle” said World Bank East Asia Pacific Communications Manager Peter Stephens from Singapore, introducing the program. “Of course it was no miracle at all, but the direct consequence of decisions made by some visionary leaders who put in policies, sequenced them, fought for them, and when they didn’t work, put in other policies that changed Asia forever.”

From Generation to Generation

Organized by the World Bank East Asia Pacific region, ASEAN Secretariat and GDLN Asia Pacific, “Catalysts” is a unique effort to capture the knowledge that senior leaders in the region possess in ways that can inform and guide the leaders of tomorrow. Through 4 videoconference sessions running through March 2008, in-depth discussions will be held with leaders that played a central role in this period including former Philippines President Fidel Ramos and other inspiring figures. Participating will be young professionals from government, business, civil society, media and academia, who will be invited to submit an essay analyzing and applying lessons learned.

For the benefit of many in the audience who have no memory of Asia before the 80’s, the two speakers began by looking back on how far Asia has come. “What are the policy decisions that stand out? Why did they work in Asia, and why not in other regions?” asked Stephens, who moderated the session.

“It was the quality of policies, discipline and consistency …and pragmatism. When something didn’t work, leaders in Asia had the ability to step back, look and make adjustments” said VP Adams. “Yes” answered SG Ong, “Leaders in the 1960s up until the early 90s had a readiness to be open minded to developments elsewhere in the world. They learned quite a lot by watching market forces in developing economies and asking what can they learn and adapt for their own countries”. SG Ong also added that it may have been the prolonged conflict seen in the 60s and 70s in the region which encouraged leaders “to shift to more practical day to day issues to score points and to develop their own acceptance”.

Challenges for Leaders - Then and Now

Asking about the difference in challenges for today’s leaders, Stephens quoted Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who once remarked that the problem with today’s generation is that they did not know hunger.  “It is a different kind of hunger. Before it was water and bread. Now it is about having chocolate for dessert, and then the icing on the cake” answered SG Ong. “In today’s world, leadership must be technology driven. They need to know how to adapt it to their own countries”. SG Ong also emphasized the transnational dimension to leadership today. “Now, policy makers need to learn how to develop national policies to deal with transnational problems and get friends in other countries to join them.”

The two speakers also commented on the decisions that were critical to the surprising recovery from the financial crisis that hit Asia in 1997/8. Finishing with a bit of crystal ball gazing to foretell the challenges facing the younger generation, VP Adams pointed to the experience of other middle income countries. “The region must watch income inequality issues. The development of the middle class is fundamental.”  SG Ong emphasized sustainability and the succession issue. “Can we ensure that we have new leaders with the ability to look at the future, go beyond national egoistic concerns? That will be critical in today’s world, as many of the issues are transnational”.

The 30 minute interview session was followed by a question and answer session. During a 10 minute break, participants at each site held a discussion to decide on one question per site. In closing, VP Adams expressed his gratitude to SG Ong who will be leaving his position later this month.

The following sites connected to this event: Singapore, Australia (Canberra, Sydney), Cambodia, Indonesia (ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Makassar, Denpasar, Riau), the Philippines, Japan, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji, U.S.(World Bank Headquarters).

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