E. Asia, Latin America seek closer ties through new body
E. Asia, Latin America seek closer ties through new body
SINGAPORE (AFP): Senior officials from 27 East Asian and Latin
American countries were to meet here Wednesday to inaugurate a
new body designed to boost trade and diplomatic ties between the
two regions.
The first formal meeting of the East Asia-Latin America Forum
comes a year after Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
proposed its creation.
A spokesman at the Foreign Ministry here said several specific
issues would be discussed during the three days of talks.
"First of all, to flash out and to reach a common
understanding on the strategic rationale for this Forum and its
multi-dimensional structure," he said.
"Second is to start the preparatory process for the second
meeting at the foreign ministers' level in about a year's time."
The spokesman added that the second meeting would be held in
Chile, where Singapore Premier Goh launched his call for the two
regions to learn more about each other, not just in the field of
economics but also in culture, the arts and the environment.
"Thirdly, we want to put on the table and discuss concrete
projects of cooperation," the spokesman said.
Diplomats from the Latin American countries here welcomed the
Forum, saying they would also put several proposals on the table
during the meeting.
The Argentina delegation will propose setting up a business
development council that will represent all Latin American
companies in various East Asian countries, and vice-versa, the
Straits Times said.
It also quoted Peruvian Ambassador Juan Carlos Capunay as
saying that his country had much to offer in terms of technology
dealing with agriculture and fish, while Asian countries could
help with plans to modernize transportation in Latin America.
Currently, East Asia's exports to Latin America make up just
1.7 percent of the region's total exports. Asia absorbs only
slightly more than four percent of Latin American exports.
In the last two decades, the relative participation of Latin
American exports in the Asian market increased by a minuscule 0.5
percent.
The countries attending the meeting from Asia are Australia,
Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea,
Thailand and Vietnam.
From Latin America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and
Venezuela, will be represented.