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.