Australia, New Zealand, Asean To Review Progress Of Trade Talks
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 28 Sep 2005 02:44:18 -0700
CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- Australia, New Zealand and members of the
Association of South East Asian Nations will review progress of
negotiations over a proposed free trade agreement in Laos this week,
Australia's Trade Minister Mark Vaile said Wednesday.
Progress of the negotiations, which began in November 2004, will be
reviewed in an annual consultation between the Australian and New
Zealand trade ministers and the economic ministers of the 10 Asean
members, he said.
"Asean is Australia's fastest growing two-way trading partner after
China and a major market for our services exports," he said in a
statement
Australia mostly exports raw or lightly processed farm, mineral and
energy products and imports processed goods.
Australia and New Zealand are already joined under a trade agreement
known as Closer Economics Relations.
The meeting in Laos will also review a partnership between the Asean
Free Trade Area and CER, which aims to deepen the level of economic
integration through improved trade facilitation and capacity building.
Vaile said he also will use the meetings to urge ministers to focus
energies on achieving progress in the Doha Round of global trade
negotiations in the lead-up to a World Trade Organization ministerial
meeting in Hong Kong in December.
"We must redouble our efforts in order to achieve a successful
conclusion to this round, which will result in a fairer and more open
global trade environment for all," he said.
While in Laos, Vaile will meet Prime Minister Bounnhang Vorachit and
other ministers to discuss a range of bilateral and regional trade and
investment issues, including Australia's significant aid program in
Laos and concern about the risks for the region of avian influenza.
Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
-by Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires, 612 6208 0902;
ray.brindal@xxxxxxxxxxxx
-Edited by Paul Godby
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
09-27-052055ET
Copyright (c) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2005-09-27 20:55 -04
Copyright (C) 2005 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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