We must continue to resist protectionism, not least in the wake of the Asian Economic Crisis.

The Indonesian economy, which has been hit extremely hard by the Asian Economic Crisis and corruption, has yet to begin a sustained recovery.

The nation seems to recognise increasingly an external role, as it did with its leadership during the Asian Economic Crisis and as it has done in relation to the current India-Pakistan dispute.

China showed commendable steadiness in the Asian Economic Crisis in 1997, refusing to engage in competitive devaluation.