Two months ago television viewers of Ulan Bator, the capitol of Mongolia saw their president, Enkbayar Nambar, thanking the Hawai'i State Bar Association for helping to bring democracy to the 6 million people of Mongolia.

His comments came in anticipation of a delegation of lawyers from the Mongolian Advocates Association attending the 2005 annual convention of the Hawai'i State Bar Association, which featured Hawai'i's first International Bar Convention.

Lawyers from Japan, China, Guam, Mongolia and Hong Kong met with more than 500 Hawai'i lawyers to share knowledge, study cutting-edge developments in international law such as intellectual property and arbitration, and celebrate the stunning growth of the "Rule of Law" in Asia.

As 2005 president of the more than 6,000-member Hawai'i State Bar Association, my major goal has been to make Hawai'i a legal center for the Asia-Pacific Basin.

Hawai'i's central location, quality resort accommodations, advanced telecommunications network and locally based educational institutions such as the East-West Center and the William S. Richardson School of Law make us a natural "bridge" between the legal institutions of Asia, Oceania and North America.

The fact that the economies of China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam are among the strongest and fastest growing in the world makes it imperative that Hawai'i lawyers have strong ties with their legal colleagues in Asia.

Without the continued growth of "Rule of Law" in Asia, economic growth and democracy cannot flourish. Without honest, well-trained and independent judges and lawyers who are firmly committed to a legal system that operates with integrity, business people and corporations will not invest in the developing countries of Asia and important international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the Asia Development Bank and the United Nations will not continue giving those nations technical and monetary assistance.

Hawai'i lawyers and judges have played a significant role in advancing the "Rule of Law" around the world.

Recently, Maui Judge Shackley Raffetto flew to Baghdad to train the new Iraqi military in the principles of military justice.

In October, retired Judge Marie Milks traveled to Mongolia to train new judges in the principles of judicial independence. Former Family Court Judge Evelyn Lance has devoted many years to training lawyers, judges and bar associations in Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

I traveled to Guangzhou, China with Chief Justice Ronald Moon to teach young lawyers and judges how to do jury trials. In Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia, and Kiev in the Ukraine, I helped draft the insurance and environmental law for those emerging democracies.

The many Hawai'i lawyers and judges who have traveled the world to help develop honest and well-functioning legal systems are part of a larger effort. Thousands of American lawyers and judges have been sent overseas by the American Bar Association. The success and stability of such new democracies as Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Mongolia are due, in large part, to the pioneering "Rule of Law" work done by these idealistic American lawyers and judges.

The Hawai'i State Bar Association will continue our work to make Hawai'i a legal center for the Asia-Pacific Basin. The 21st century is the Asian century, and Hawai'i has the potential to play an important role.

Hawai'i will host the annual meeting of the American Bar Association Aug. 2-10. More than 10,000 lawyers from around the world will be in attendance, including our new Mongolian lawyer friends.

A highlight of the convention will be honoring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and Chief Justice Hilario Davide of the Philippines for their ongoing commitment to the "Rule of Law" in Asia.

The Hawai'i State Bar Association is extremely proud that Hawai'i has been chosen to be the site for this salute to those champions of the "Rule of Law." Hawai'i's lawyers are committed to continue with our role of fostering democracy around the world.

Richard Turbin is the 2005 president of the Hawai'i State Bar Association and practices law in Honolulu. In 1999-2000, he was chairman of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association.