The poor nations must unite in this globalized world

• Urges Mahathir Bin Mohamad in the International Conference of Economists • Accompanied by Fidel

BY JOSE A. DE LA OSA—Granma daily staff writer—

• PRESIDENT Fidel Castro accompanied Doctor Mahathir Bin Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, during his special address to the 8th International Conference of Economists on Globalization and Problems of Development.

Recognized for having transformed Malaysia from an agricultural-based to an industrial-based economy and having taken that Asian country to 17th place among the trading nations of the world, Bin Mohamad noted that it is necessary to think again on the significance of globalization, and affirmed that we have to maintain unity in order to defend our rights in a world that is steadily becoming smaller.

The developing countries, he argued, must have the benefits that will allow them to compete "with a certain advantage," so as to have a chance to win in this competition.

He went on to observe that this has been the experience of Malaysia in the context of globalization, "because we are well aware that those who went to trade with us did not always do so from the heart," in an allusion to the international conglomerates controlled by the major powers.

Continuing his idea he stated that if we want to have a globalized world it is essential that the rich nations offer benefits to the weaker ones that cannot compete, logically, on an equal footing. "That would be impossible, because they are not competitors of the same stature," he emphasized.

"We do not have to accept the rich countries’ interpretation of globalization. Our interpretation must be one where the benefits of globalization exist, but where our interpretation is accepted by the rich countries."

He said that Malaysia is suspicious of globalization, "because it could bring about our re-colonization in a direct or indirect manner. We could be controlled by the large trading nations of Europe and the United States."