'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.