B

ANGKOK-The different experiences of East Asian "miracle" economies can teach

poorer neighbors how to develop and maintain rapid economic growth, United

Nations and World Bank officials said.

The UN Economic and Social

Commission on East Asia and the Pacific (Escap) and the World Bank presented

studies of Asia's model economies to poorer South and Southeast Asian nations at

a two-day conference in Bangkok starting on May 19.

"Look behind the talk

of an East Asian miracle and see the many contrasts and country differences

which are at least as important as the overall picture," the World Bank's

Callisto Madavo said at the opening ceremony.

Successful economies being

held up as examples were Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore

and Thailand.

Countries at the conference are Bangladesh, India, Iran,

Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Philippines

and Vietnam.

"The rich diversity of experience in the region...provides

fertile ground for drawing policy lessons and to benefit from each others'

experience," Escap Secretary-General Rafeeuddin Ahmed said at the ceremony.

-Reuters

countries into complacency, he said, adding that per capita income

in East Asia remains at $600 and that many people lifted from absolute poverty

are now just above the poverty line.

"Their future, and the prospects of

generations to come, depends on continuing bold reforms to build on the

achievements so far," Madavo said.

If developing nations sacrifice their

environments for economic gain, their growth will be slowed or stopped later

when they have to pay to clean up their mistakes, Madavo said.

"Like the

fight against poverty, the fight against environmental destruction is something

best done as a society develops," he said.-Reuters