Mahathir promotes EAEC

Mahathir promotes EAEC

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad said
yesterday that ASEAN should continue wooing Japan, China and
South Korea into a proposed grouping of East Asia's booming
economies despite an initial lukewarm response.

"The effort to have them in the grouping is a good move as it
can strengthen ASEAN and its influence in decision-making for an
East Asian vision," Mahathir told reporters.

Japan, South Korea and China told the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers during their annual talks
in Bangkok on Monday that more time was needed to consider
joining the Mahathir-initiated East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC).

"There is no problem if the three countries want more time but
I hope this is not a way for them to avoid making a decision,"
Mahathir said.

Monday's informal meeting was the first between ASEAN and
three of the five prospective core members of the EAEC, officials
said. Hong Kong and Taiwan are the other two economies being
wooed by ASEAN for EAEC's take-off.

Analysts said indecision by China, Japan and South Korea had
largely stalled the EAEC's planned take-off this year.