SINGAPORE: Nearly half of people surveyed in ASEAN countries back a common currency despite wide economic disparities among the member countries, a poll by a Singapore newspaper revealed Monday.

They want the pace of integration speeded up as ASEAN identity becomes stronger, said The Straits Times Asia Poll.

More than 1,000 English-speaking urban residents were polled in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Singapore.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also includes Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Over half of those queried said they could speak the language of another ASEAN country, 44 per cent had travelled within the region, and an equal percentage expected to do so within the next six months.

Five in 10 of those surveyed were willing to invest in another ASEAN country.

One in four said they would pick another ASEAN country if they had the opportunity to live or work abroad.

When asked in a separate question if they would prefer to work in a non-ASEAN country, nearly 70 per cent said yes. In a breakdown, respondents from Indonesia were the most affirmative, followed by Malaysia and the Philippines.

A common currency was supported by 45 per cent of those queried. Thirty-eight per cent rejected the idea and the rest were undecided.

Thailand emerged as the top destination in ASEAN for a visit, followed by Singapore.

"The results are an eye-opener," The Straits Times quoted ASEAN's former Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino as saying.

"The people are clearly ahead of their governments," he observed. "While leaders and officials are still debating the ASEAN identity issue, people-to-people links have grown over the years."

The findings signal a willingness on the part of people to accept a closer degree of integration of their economies and societies, recommended by some ASEAN leaders.

Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo has said the rise of China and India had given this greater impetus and ASEAN would need to reposition itself to play a role in a changing world.

An integrated region "will be more stable and ... allow ASEAN to compete," said Leo Suryadinata, a senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies.

"Otherwise it will be difficult for ASEAN to face globalization," he said.

Malaysia will host the 11th ASEAN Summit on December 12-13 and the first East Asia Summit on December 14. The countries participating in the summits including all the 10 members of ASEAN and its dialogue partners including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India and Russia. Australia and New Zealand also will attend the events.

Source: China Daily