Being a vast country, some of its provinces are close to South Asia and central Chinese government has encouraged these provinces to forge closer cooperation with South Asian nations under a broader framework of Sino-South Asia cooperation. It is heartening to note that following initial negligence or lack of interest, two sides are now coming closer with specific measures to promoting cooperation in economic, trade and business, communications and other fields. A recent conference in Kunming, capital of Yunan province, termed as "China-South Asia Business Forum" has shed enough light in this area and the ball seems to be now Êrolling.

Yunan province, seen as ÊChina's gateway with South East and South Asia, had lunched the "Kunming Initiative" a few years ago, but without much progress till now. However, the idea has been praised by all concerned parties and of late concrete steps are being considered and discussed for multi-faceted Sino-South Asia cooperation.

SAARC's ties with external sources are important for its progress and effectiveness. It is in the threshold Êof beginning its course in the third decade. It was launched in Dhaka in 1985 and it is through the coming summit in the Bangladesh capital, which is now rescheduled for early February following postponement because of a severe natural disaster, Êthe assiduously nurtured regional forum enters a new phase. The SAARC often comes in for criticism for the reason that it has not succeeded in delivering the expected results in twenty years.

Then again there are cynics, who believe that the forum has not made any mark at all. However, an overwhelming majority seems to feel that there is no reason whatsoever for turning pessimistic about the SAARC, whose progress howsoever small may be, is remarkable in the given situation. Resource constraints and other factors including major political differences at times acted adversely for the forum. This needs to be overcome as the regional body is supposed to launch fresh vigour after the coming 13th summit.

When the SAARC was launched in Dhaka through the first summit, the most elderly Êleader, Sri Lankan president late Junius Jayewardene, cautioned that the new forum faced manifold problems despite Êpotentials but hoped that it would go ahead weathering many a storm. Nearly nineteen years later, president Chandrika Kumaratunga of the same island state told the inaugural session of the 12th SAARC summit in Islamabad that the regional grouping now needs to swing more into effective action oriented welfare programmes.

The signing of agreement on South Asian Free Trade Zone (SAFTA) and stronger emphasis on unremitting efforts for poverty alleviation in world's one of the worst poverty-ridden region on one hand reflected forum's eagerness to tackle critical issues inextricably linked with economic emancipation and protocol on curbing terrorism, on the other, underlined the willingness to improve overall climate in the area as far as possible. But it is the core economic matters that will help improve the socio-economic conditions of the member countries, particularly the lesser developed ones, should now catch the imagination of the SAARC leaders in a far bigger way in their future programmes.

Expectedly, SAARC's programmes and priorities are expanding. The last Islamabad summit had taken up a series of programmes in the economic, social and other sectors and all these are commendable. It is imperative that the positive spirit is maintained through appropriate and timely follow up actions. SAARC with its resource constraints cannot do much and as such greater links with outside is important for the forum.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)'s recent decision to grant "Observer" status to the SAARC has come at the right time the before the 13th summit conference of the leaders. This new-find status will enable the SAARC to place its points of views on different socio-economic issues before the world body. The UN agencies can also assist the SAARC in many ways, ranging from financial to technical aspects. It is necessary that the regional body should derive maximum benefits -- diplomatic, financial and otherwise -- from the world body as well as from other external sources in its quest for further invigorating and embellishing the SAARC which is no longer a nascent organisation. The forum should establish and widen its links with other effective regional forums and multinational bodies for cooperation since the task before it is massive and it needs international support and assistance to carry out the planned programmes. The Dhaka-based Centre for Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific(CIRDAP),which has gained sufficient experience in the field of poverty alleviation and rural development, can also be associated in the relevant areas of SAARC programmes since CIRDAP's activities and ideas are close to that of SAARC in several fields and many of the ideas are complementary.

Against this background, the "China-South Asia Business Forum" meeting in Kunming was an event in right direction and top business leaders from the region attended it. Bangladesh's strong team was led by FBCCI president Abdul Awal Minto. What was noteworthy is the support from China's central government towards Beijing's economic cooperation with South Asia. China's assistant minister for foreign affairs Shen Guofang, traveled to Kunming from the central capital and assured the forum that his government would go all out in encouraging cooperation with South Asia initiated by the Yunan province, whose vice Governor Shao Qiwei is a driving force behind the regional and sub-regional cooperation. He is also keen for bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh and led a high powered team here last July to discuss concrete issues. He said Dhaka-Kunming direct air route is now a bright possibility and may take shape by the middle of 2005. When it finally does, this will help Sino-Bangladesh cooperation in addition to the regional framework. Bangladesh envoy Ashfaqur Rahman told the forum of his government's policy to Êexplore all possible avenues for Êcooperation with China. But timely follow-up actions are important to turn the proposals into reality.

The SAARC on one hand must consolidate the gains and enhance cohesiveness among member nations and on the other widen its international interactions. After all, image in the outside world for a forum like the SAARC is important. SAARC needs to go ahead with its programmes and forge closer ties with nearby regions and interactions with China can serve rightly in that direction.

Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury is a senior journalist.