BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Asian economy should play a more important role in the trend of globalization, according to participants to the third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) here Saturday.

  Asian countries have opened to foreign markets and investment, and East and Southeast Asia are vigorous in their economic and social development, said Pashupati Shumshere Rana, president of the National Democratic Party of Nepal.

  As Asia benefits from the economic cooperation brought by regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, political parties should give them more support so that they will play a bigger role, Rana said.

  It is not only governments, but also the political parties that should be held responsible for economic growth and social progress,said Tarradon Piamphongsang of the Democrat Party of Thailand. He said parties should seek harmony and support cooperation.

  Economic ties have been getting more and more closer among Asian countries, said Ueda Isamu from the New Komei Party of Japan.This, he said, should benefit all the more the Asian countries and contribute to the development and prosperity of the regional economy.

  Ong Ka Chuan, a delegate from Southeast Asia from the Malaysian Chinese Association, said that the region should enhance economic cooperation with East Asia, particularly in fields of trade, culture, tourism and science and technology.

  Participants hold that closer economic ties among Asian countries would not only benefit the countries themselves, but also benefit the world in terms of peace and stability. 

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