Association for Asian Union

(Founded August 2001)

                                                                                                                                                                                                          7^th May 2005

Press Release

            In preparation for the 60^th Anniversary of the first Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi in March 1947, the “Association for Asian union” held a Seminar on “Asia in 21rst Century-Peace and Prosperity through Unity”, at India International Center on & 7May 2005. This was the second in a series started on 10 February 2005, with inauguration by Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj. Diplomats, defense experts, technocrats, university professors, and representatives of NGOs, journalists and businessmen addressed the Seminar. There was unanimity about need for an Asian Union, which may be preceded by an Asian Economic Community.

            Dr. Beni Prasad Agarwal, Former Indian Ambassador and Professor of Political Science, who founded the AAU in August 2001, gave the background and also said he was assured by Government of India that the 60^th Anniversary of the 1947 Conference arranged by Jawahar Lal Nehru will be celebrated in a befitting manner in 2007.  

In a message received form the External Affairs Minister, Shri K.Natwar Singh, the need for Asians “to come together” was emphasized. Representative of the European Union said the ideal of Asian unity was worth pursuing for the benefit of all. A senior diplomat of Iran referred to the benefits, which may accrue from a gas pipeline form Iran

The Association for Asian Union has been entrusted with the task of preparatory work for the 2007 Conference and is planning a major Conference in 2006 of intellectuals from all countries of Asia.

60^th Anniversary of the First Asian Relations Conference of March 1947

                                                                                                            23 March 2007

PRESS RELEASE 

The "Association for Asian Union" is an NGO devoted to the cause of peace and prosperity in the world by focusing on the cause of Asian unity. It was founded in 2001by former Ambassador and Professor of Political Science, Dr. Beni Prasad Agarwal and other like-minded intellectuals. The AAU has been organizing Conferences, Seminars etc and contacting Asian intellectuals and Governments to promote the goals.

Nehru was a man of vision and had organized the first Asian Relations Conference from March 23 to April 2 in Purana Kila, even before our independence. Delegations from 28 Asian countries had come to attend the Conference. The countries were: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia-Cochin China-Laos, Ceylon, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaya, Mongolia, Nepal, Palestine Jewish Delegation, The Philippines, Siam, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. It was a truly pan-Asian gathering including participant ant from the extreme west of the continent like Egypt and Palestine to the extreme east like Korea and Vietnam and from Mongolia in the north to Indonesia in the south. It is interesting to notice that 8 of the 28 delegations were of the central Asian republics of what was then the Soviet Union and they are now independent countries. Observers from Arab League, Australia, London, Moscow, New York and the UNO were also present.

In his welcome address to the delegates, Nehru said: "It is fitting that India should play her part in this new phase of Asian development. Apart from the fact that India herself is emerging into freedom and independence, she is the natural centre and focal point of many forces at work in Asia. Geography is a compelling factor, and geographically she is so situated as to be the meeting point of western and northern and eastern and southeast Asia. Because of this the history of India is a long history of her relations with other countries of Asia."

Addressing the Conference on April 2, 1947 Mahatma Gandhi had said: "If you want to give a message of importance to the West it must be a message of love......The West is today pining for wisdom. It is despairing of multiplication of atom bombs because such multiplication must destroy not merely all the West but the whole world.......It is up to you to deliver the whole world and not merely Asia from wickedness and sin. That is the precious heritage which your teachers and my teachers have left for us." How relevant this advice of Mahatma Gandhi is even today!

Nehru had emphasized that the idea underlying the Conference was "in no way aggressive or against any other continent or country." He added, "Ever since news of this Conference went abroad some people in Europe or Ameri1ca have viewed it with doubt imagining that it was some kind of a Pan-Asian movement directed against Europe or America. We have no designs against anybody; ours is the great design of promoting peace and progress all over the world."

This passage from Nehru’s speech of 1947 was also quoted by Rajiv Gandhi when he organized the 40th anniversary of the 1947 Conference in 1987 in Delhi.

At the end of the Conference of 1947 a resolution, moved by Wen Yuan-Ning of China, was adopted to set up an "Asian Relations Organization". A provisional General Council, consisting of 30 members from various countries was also appointed, with Jawahar Lal Nehru as its first Head.

As it happened Nehru's initiative was overtaken by the Cold War and he had to remould it into the Non-aligned movement by bringing in Africa and others. Today the Cold War is over and Africa has already created an African Union, while Asia still lacks a Pan-Asian body. It is time to remind ourselves of Nehru’s great vision. Rajiv Gandhi's commemoration also happened before the end of the Cold War, though the fact it was on the eve of the end of the Cold War shows that he had some premonition of that and considered it worthwhile to revive the idea. Now when the Cold War is actually over, revival of Nehru's vision is very appropriate. Therefore the Association for Asian union has organized the present Seminar on the 60th Anniversary of the First Asian Relations Conference. The Association for Asian Union fervently believes that the dream of a Pan-Asian Organization will be fulfilled before too long.

This Seminar will be attended by eminent persons from all walks of life as well as Heads of Diplomatic Missions and other diplomats from Asia and beyond. In his keynote address to the Seminar today, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports and Development of the North Eastern Region , Government of India says that having become free we should use that freedom" to restore our countries, our region and our shared continent to their civilizational and historical eminence, so that Asia might resume its millennial role as the beacon-light to all humankind and so that the 21st century becomes the 'Asian Century' He also says "It is necessary to ensure that this Asian Century is based on mutual cooperation and respect as embodied in the Panchsheel-the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence adumbrated by Prime Minister Jawahar lal Nehru and Premier Zhou Enlai half a century ago. He has also suggested a plan "to bring together the energy surplus and energy deficit countries of Asia on to a common platform of Asian Energy Security"

Post Script- The Seminar was held successfully with a large attendance. Apart from the key-note address of Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, there were speeched by Ambassadors of Turkey and Kazakhstan and Deputy Head of European Commission as well as a Political Attaché of the Chinese Embassy. All the speakers were very positive about the idea of an Asian entity.

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