Mid East, Pacific forum proposed

Mid East, Pacific forum proposed

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Acting Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim proposed yesterday establishing a forum between Middle East and Asia-Pacific nations to discuss mutual interests.

"Considering the importance of the Middle East as our supplier of energy and considering our historical links, it is surprising that ties between our two regions have not been stronger," Anwar said at the opening of a two-day Asia Oil and Gas Conference.

"Perhaps the time has come to set up a forum to address issues of mutual interest, starting with oil and gas," he told more than 100 delegates from about 25 nations at the conference organized by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.

Reasons for such a forum include the "increasingly competitive global environment," which is making the Middle East nations need new and larger markets for their products.