KL to raise Asian concerns at APEC

KL to raise Asian concerns at APEC

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's outspoken prime minister said on
Monday that he is likely to voice Asian concerns at a summit
meeting of 21 Pacific Rim nations in Brunei next month.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said during a meeting with
Brunei's ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Sunday, he was asked
by the host to play a "prominent role."

"Brunei wants Malaysia to play a prominent role in the meeting
to present the views of Asia," Mahathir was quoted as saying by
the national news agency, Bernama. Mahathir on Monday ended a
two-day visit to Brunei, Malaysia's neighbor on Borneo island.

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum are
meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital, mid-November.
Among those expected to attend are President Clinton and China's
President Jiang Zemin.

The meeting is likely to focus on globalization and various
aspects of free trade.

Although he has followed free market policies at home,
Mahathir has emerged as a strong advocate against globalization,
saying it would hurt weaker Asian economies. He has argued that
globalization was a ploy by rich nations to gain control over
smaller economies.

On Monday, he indicated that he would pursue that line in
Brunei, where some of the world's biggest economies will be
represented along with some of the smallest ones in Asia and the
Pacific islands.

"Developed countries consider globalization as something good
but it may not be so for us," he was quoted as saying by Bernama

APEC, established in 1989, aims to achieve free trade and
investment among its members by 2020. The group's members are
Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan,
Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.