Report of BABA 6 Retreat in Beijing, China

By Ryuhei Sano

Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability

Reconfirmation: Why Asian young leaders?

When it comes to the significance of BABA6, mainly three perspectives have been identified from my point of view. The first is “interdisciplinary approach”. Changes are normally brought about by network which consists of people with unique backgrounds. The second is “knowledge creation process”. It must be good for young leaders to get together and explore new initiatives by utilizing their potentiality. The third is “needs”. Social issues in this era have been beyond national borders, and we need to respond collectively.

For clarification, the following points should be considered why BABA is a timely approach: 1) jet engine which enables long distance travel shorter in Asia, 2) internet communication which enables information exchange quicker, reproducible, and multiple connections, 3) international banking system which enables finance move from state control to global free market system, 4) high level microprocessor which enables storage and manipulation of data in different Asian cultural aspects.

Lessons learned

Young leaders’ communication explained why Building A Better Asia should be organized. Good outcomes were such as strengthening human interaction; association between young leaders; making initial steps to promote economic and social development collectively as neighbors; and respecting particular culture in the diversity of Asia. Various sessions and follow-up conversations demonstrated the emergence of an information society in Asia, based on technologies enabling messages to flow through national boundaries, and creating a variety of new regional cultures.

Interactive sessions helped socialization among young leaders. It was necessary for all to go through this stage as the first step towards the integration of different perspectives that each participant had. Even though it was not always easy for participants to have good communication for collaborative activities, each leader must have learned Asia as a potential global leader through regional cooperation.

Suggestion

In the future, leaders should have more opportunities to interact with one another based on new findings of this gathering. It will give positive impacts on human development issues that we need to work in Asia.