ASEM accords to boost business<\/p>\n
TOKYO (AFP): Economics ministers from 25 European and Asian
\nnations are set to adopt two agreements to promote investment and
\ntrade at a meeting near here Sunday, official sources said.<\/p>\n
The adoption is expected to be the focus of the Asia-Europe
\nMeeting (ASEM) of ministers.<\/p>\n
ASEM groups the 15 countries of the European Union (plus the
\nBrussels commission), China, Japan, South Korea and the seven
\noldest-established members of the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations.<\/p>\n
Officials said the investment accord was the more difficult to
\nfinalize, with some Asian nations -- notably China, Indonesia and
\nMalaysia -- cool on the idea.<\/p>\n
It includes the setting up of an Internet site to collate
\ninvestment possibilities, recommendations for more transparency
\nand the creation of a group of experts.<\/p>\n
The commerce agreement concerns customs procedures,
\nintellectual property rights and rules on farming hygiene.<\/p>\n
ASEM is also a forum for business people. The Chiba meeting
\nwill give them the chance to swap views and ideas and discuss
\nfinancing of infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n
ASEM finance ministers held their first meeting in Bangkok
\nlast week and pledged to boost cooperation in the financial
\nsector amid Asian currency turmoil.<\/p>\n
A European diplomat helping to prepare for Sunday's meeting
\nsaid the advantage of such a forum \"is that it allows for
\ndiverging views which don't have to be ironed out by World Trade
\nOrganization-type negotiations.\"<\/p>\n
\"This also allows for the inclusion of China, which is still
\nnot a World Trade Organization (WTO) member and allows it to stay
\nseparate from the process of global integration. \"<\/p>\n
Joern Keck, head of the European Commission's delegation to
\nJapan, has said ASEM should mainly work as a catalyst to achieve
\nbetter understanding and put high-level participants together in
\nan informal setting.<\/p>\n
He said concrete action would flow naturally as a result.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asem-accords-to-boost-business-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }