Japan urged to open doors

Japan urged to open doors

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad
urged Japan Thursday to open its doors wider to imports from
Southeast Asia now its economy was recovering.

"As Asia's leading economy, we look to Japan to assume a
natural leading role by facilitating our access to its market,"
he said at a management seminar linking 500 participants in Kuala
Lumpur, Osaka and Thailand.

Speaking to reporters later, Mahathir said Malaysia did not
accrue many benefits from its exports to Japan as they were
mostly Japanese goods manufactured locally.

"We would like to have products produced by local people
penetrate Japanese markets," he said.

Mahathir said procedures and non-tariff barriers restricted
imports by Japan.

In his speech, the premier voiced hope that Japan's economic
recovery would in turn allow its companies to help Southeast
Asian manufacturers increase exports.