German envoy says Schroeder wants to bolster ASEAN ties

German envoy says Schroeder wants to bolster ASEAN ties

Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's upcoming visit to Southeast
Asia shows he is determined to establish strong relations with
the region and enhance economic, trade and political ties, a
senior German envoy said on Monday.

Jurgen A.R. Staks, who is German ambassador here, described
Schroeder's week-long visit to four Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries -- the first by a German
chancellor -- from May 11 as an historic event.

"This is a very historic moment. It is historic not only with
regards to Malaysia but to Southeast Asia because it is the first
visit of a German chancellor," Staks told AFP.

Staks said Schroeder's visit, 14 months after Malaysian Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Berlin, transmitted two signals
about the role Germany wants to play in the region.

"One is with regards to bilateral relations and the other is
the inter-regional cooperation between European Union (EU) and
ASEAN," he said.

"It is important that these two organizations develop a more
substantive and intensive cooperation in the fields which that
they have been active in the past but which could be exploited a
little more, particularly economic cooperation and political
dialogue," he added.

Staks said Schroeder would also exchange ideas with regional
leaders on post-war Iraq, the Middle East conflict and terrorism
besides identifying ways to enhance economic and cultural
cooperation.

"We consider the United Nations the perfect international body
for the reconstruction of Iraq and then of course all the member
states that are ready to contribute to the reconstruction should
do it under the UN umbrella," he said.

Germany emerged on the side of France and Russia in opposing
any UN resolutions that would authorize war much to the anger of
the United States. Malaysia was also opposed to the U.S.-led war
in Iraq.

There are about 300 German companies in Malaysia with total
investments of about 1.6 billion euro (US$1.8 billion). Total
trade in 2001 was 6 billion euro in favor of Malaysia.

German's imports consist of electronics, electrical and
palmoil while exports to Malaysia include electronics, machinery
and motor vehicles.

Schroeder's delegation of some 30 people includes his
economics and labor minister Wolfgang Clement and some business
leaders.