'Australia allowed to join ASEAN'

'Australia allowed to join ASEAN'

CANBERRA (Reuter): Australia's push for greater involvement in
Asia was boosted yesterday when Philippines President Fidel Ramos
said Canberra could be allowed to join the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"Australia coming into ASEAN is something that must be
considered very carefully by Australia and ASEAN," Ramos told the
National Press Club in the Australian capital, Canberra.

"(But) I wouldn't want to venture to suggest that Australia
should get into or stay out of ASEAN."

ASEAN, a key regional group comprising Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, has
become a political and economic force in the region.