Thailand, Mexico study link between NAFTA and AFTA<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AFP): The foreign ministers of Mexico and Thailand
\nannounced progress towards a range of bilateral agreements and
\nstrong prospects for regional cooperation.<\/p>\n
\"We are studying means to link NAFTA with AFTA,\" Thai Foreign
\nMinister and deputy Prime Minister Amnuay Virawan said, referring
\nto the regional free trade areas of North America and ASEAN, the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations.<\/p>\n
\"This is, economically speaking, the most dynamic area in the
\nworld. And Latin America, Mexico in particular, is preparing for
\na period of growth. I think there will be a lot of synergies,\"
\nMexican Foreign Minister Jose Gurria said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Gurria, who came to Thailand via Indonesia, Singapore and
\nMalaysia, told reporters that in each country he had received
\n\"extremely positive\" responses to a Mexican request for full
\nsectoral dialogue partner status with ASEAN.<\/p>\n
The regional body -- composed of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
\nthe Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam -- however, was
\nin the process of reviewing its policy on dialogue partners.<\/p>\n
\"ASEAN must consider how to choose additional dialogue
\npartners at the ministers' meeting in Jakarta\" later this month,\"
\nAmnuay said, but he added that as a big country and a NAFTA
\nmember Mexico was a strong candidate.<\/p>\n
The two countries hoped to be ready to underpin bilateral
\nrelations in November at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) meeting in Manila.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed in the next few months to complete a number of
\nagreements in the areas of environment, of transportation and
\ntrade, culture and education, science and technology -- a
\npolitical framework (for relations),\" Gurria said.<\/p>\n
Bilateral agreements covering extradition, double taxation and
\ninvestment protection were among those expected to be ready to
\nsign in November, Amnuay said.<\/p>\n
Gurria also met with the Thai ministers of finance and
\ncommerce, business leaders and opinion leaders in the media and
\nacademics, Jorge Navarro, a Mexican Embassy official here said.<\/p>\n
He would see potential investors from the CP Group, a
\ndiversified regional giant, the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce
\nand the automobile, cement, construction, textile and financial
\nindustries, among others, Navarro said.<\/p>\n
Gurria came to the region to present Mexico's achievements in
\nemerging from an economic crisis in 1994, to attract foreign
\ninvestment and in its developed sectors to offer technological
\ncooperation, the embassy official said.<\/p>\n
The foreign minister was to continue on to Japan Saturday
\nafter a reception by Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn,
\nwho is due to visit Mexico in October.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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