Vietnam wants time before joining AFTA<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (AFP): Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam
\nsaid yesterday that Hanoi should be given a few years to merge
\ninto a regional free trade plan after joining the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July this year.<\/p>\n
\"I have no idea how long it will take. Perhaps three or four
\nyears. ASEAN member countries also have the same feeling,\" Cam
\nsaid at the end of a four-day official visit here.<\/p>\n
Cam confirmed that Vietnam would formally become ASEAN's
\nseventh member when foreign ministers of the regional group's
\ncurrent members, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore and Thailand meet in Bandar Seri Begawan in July.<\/p>\n
\"Our membership received the approval of not only all ASEAN
\nmembers but also other countries,\" Cam, who visited Australia and
\nthe Philippines before coming here, said.<\/p>\n
But he said that differences in economic development which
\nonce threatened to keep Hanoi out for a few more years meant that
\na transition period was necessary before Hanoi could fully
\nparticipate in the ASEAN Free Trade Area or AFTA.<\/p>\n
Under the AFTA plan, the ASEAN countries have begun
\ndismantling tariffs on thousands of products to reduce them to no
\nmore than five percent and carve out a free trade area by 2003.<\/p>\n
Cam said that the transition period would give Hanoi time to
\nbring its tax and customs laws and procedures in line with
\npractices in ASEAN's other members.<\/p>\n
Vietnamese officials have been attending the annual ASEAN
\nforeign ministers meetings as observers since 1993 when Hanoi
\nsigned the ASEAN Treaty of Amity, agreeing to resolve disputes
\npeacefully after years of enmity with its neighbors.<\/p>\n
Hanoi's membership is expected to further strengthen its
\ngrowing trade and investment links with ASEAN countries which
\nhave invested more than US$1.5 billion in their communist
\nneighbor, analysts said.<\/p>\n
Cam said that Vietnam also wanted to join the Asia-Pacific
\nEconomic Cooperation forum after a three-year freeze on
\nmembership by the 18-member grouping is lifted next year.<\/p>\n
\"Although we cannot join now there have been suggestions that
\nwe participate in some APEC committees. Our objective is to
\nintegrate into the region as well as the world community,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Cam, who met Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong earlier yesterday,
\nsaid that Singapore would help set up an industrial park in
\nVietnam and help develop and rehabilitate Vietnam's
\ninfrastructure including its ports.<\/p>",
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