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.