Link between ASEAN and Australasia explored<\/p>\n
WELLINGTON (Reuter): ASEAN is likely to move towards closer
\nrelations with Australasia but the idea of integrating the two
\ntrade zones has yet to win full acceptance from all members,
\nThailand's deputy foreign minister said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Surin Pitsuwan said most of ASEAN's six members supported
\nexpanded ties with Australia and New Zealand and that formalizing
\nlinks would be a question of tactics and timing.<\/p>\n
\"All the ASEAN countries will have to decide that together. I
\nthink we have the support of the majority...it is now under
\nactive discussion,\" he told a news conference in Wellington.<\/p>\n
The six members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n-- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
\nThailand -- are grouped in the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA).<\/p>\n
\"The idea is not that AFTA will exclude anybody, but we have
\nto find a legitimate reason for AFTA to include more
\n(countries),\" Pitsuwan said after talks with New Zealand Foreign
\nMinister Don McKinnon.<\/p>\n
\"The entire ASEAN membership will have to be convinced.\"
\nOver time, he expected a \"very high degree of integration\" with
\nthe Closer Economic Relationship (CER) trade zone linking
\nAustralia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating spoke enthusiastically
\nin support of closer ASEAN-CER ties during a visit to Thailand in
\nApril, while New Zealand is fast expanding trade with the region.<\/p>\n
Pitsuwan said bilateral trade with New Zealand had expanded
\nfivefold within five years, with a balance of US$200 million in
\nWellington's favor.<\/p>\n
He highlighted New Zealand's expertise in telecommunications,
\nforestry, agriculture and the environment as of special interest
\nto Southeast Asian markets.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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