Chirac upbeat on Asian future

Chirac upbeat on Asian future

HANOI (AFP): Southeast Asian countries will ride out the
turmoil buffeting their markets and currencies, French President
Jacques Chirac said here yesterday.

"Southeast Asia will remain without doubt one of tomorrow's
major poles of world growth," Chirac told a luncheon of
Vietnamese and French business leaders here.

"We are closely following... the economic and financial
turbulence" rocking the region, he said, adding "I have
confidence in their ability to overcome the unsteadiness they are
confronting."

Since the flotation of the Thai baht on July 2, stock markets
in the region have witnessed record plunges while local
currencies have plummeted against the dollar.

Chirac arrived Wednesday for a two-day state visit, ahead of
the opening Friday of a summit of 49 Francophone countries and
regions.