2nd ASEM summit planned in 1998<\/p>\n
TOKYO (Reuter): Senior European Union officials said yesterday
\nthey had decided with Asian counterparts to hold a second Asia
\nEuropean Meeting (ASEM) summit in April in London next year.<\/p>\n
The first summit was held in Bangkok early last year.<\/p>\n
Officials told reporters they discussed trade and investment
\nissues, stressing the need for further liberalization and set
\ntimetables for further meetings.<\/p>\n
ASEM links Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China and South Korea with
\nthe 15-Member European Union.<\/p>\n
Asked about China's entry to the World Trade Organization
\n(WTO), Gerard Depayre, EU deputy-director general for Commercial
\nPolicy with the Far East, said China should join as quickly as
\npossible but that it should fulfill WTO conditions and
\nobligations.<\/p>\n
\"We are confident that the process has been reactivated and we
\nhave had positive indications from the side of China,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Beijing's decade-long bid to join the WTO has also been held
\nup because it wants to join on the terms accorded to developing
\ncountries, which are considered to be much easier.<\/p>\n
China says this would give it more time to adjust but some
\ncountries such as the United States insist that China's economy
\nis too big to be afforded developing country treatment.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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