Vietnam prepared for AFTA<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): Senior officials of the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) are working for would-be member nation
\nVietnam's swift inclusion into the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA),
\nthe Philippine Foreign Department said yesterday.<\/p>\n
It said in a statement that Hanoi's inclusion in AFTA, as well
\nas the South China Sea situation, nuclear testing in the Pacific
\nand the crisis in Bosnia, was discussed by senior officials of
\nBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and
\nThailand ahead of an annual ministerial meeting in Bandar Seri
\nBegawan in Brunei.<\/p>\n
Foreign Undersecretary Rodolfo Severino was quoted in the
\nstatement as saying that "the Philippines strongly backed
\nVietnam's early membership in ASEAN and we are working out the
\nmechanics for Vietnam's inclusion in AFTA which should be
\nacceptable to all parties concerned."<\/p>\n
Although Vietnam will join ASEAN, its full inclusion in AFTA,
\na scheme to create a free trade area among member countries by
\n2000, is still uncertain since its economy is not at the same
\nlevel as the rest of ASEAN.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vietnam-prepared-for-afta-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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