ID :
26438
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 23:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/26438
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MINISTERS & CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS OF ASEAN & ASEAN+3 TO MEET IN MANILA
BEIJING, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Finance ministers and central bank governors
of Asean and its dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea (Asean+3) will
meet in Manila this November to discuss measures to overcome the global
financial crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
Their proposals will be submitted to the Asean Summit scheduled to be held
in Bangkok in December, he told Malaysian reporters here Friday.
The prime minister who is here to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) had a meeting with Asean leaders Thursday night and Friday
morning.
All of them also met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime
Minister Taro Aso and South Korea President Lee Myung Bak at a breakfast
meeting this morning under the Asean+3 initiative.
"During our discussion, although we acknowledged our countries are not
badly affected by the global financial crisis, it is important for us to be
prepared with various measures and approaches," Abdullah said.
The meeting in Manila later should result in specific proposals to be
tabled at the Asean Summit in Bangkok where the Asean+3 Summit will also be
held.
According to Abdullah, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso will bring up
Asean+3 proposals to the G20 Group that will hold its summit in Washington. The
meeting is expected to focus on the financial crisis.
In facing the crisis this time, he said countries in East Asia should act
together with China, Japan and South Korea, the three biggest economies in the
region.
There is a possibility that the meeting in Manila later will discuss ways
to
accelerate the setting up of a fund under the Chiangmai Initiative that has been
agreed by Asean+3 Finance Ministers earlier in April to assist member countries
during the crisis.
Recently, South Korea proposed to speed up the setting up of the fund
amounting to US$80 billion, of which 80 percent are to be contributed by the
three biggest economies of East Asia, while another 20 percent by Asean.
This will be fine-tuned by the finance ministers and central bank
governors at their meeting, Abdullah said.
The meeting between Asean and Asean+3 would also emphasize on the
importance
of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he said.
He said he had also pointed out the need to assist countries to develop
their growth sectors like agriculture.
The prime minister also had a bilateral meeting with Philippines President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Thailand Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Pakistan
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Cyprus president Demetris Chrisofias
Friday morning.
Abdullah said the new Thai prime minister, who had expressed the wish to
continue to strengthen bilateral relations, will be visiting Malaysia soon.
They had also touched on the situation in South Thailand.
During his meeting with Arroyo, Abdullah was briefed on the latest
development in Southern Philippines and the government's dialogue with the
separatists in the region.
-- BERNAMA
of Asean and its dialogue partners China, Japan and South Korea (Asean+3) will
meet in Manila this November to discuss measures to overcome the global
financial crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
Their proposals will be submitted to the Asean Summit scheduled to be held
in Bangkok in December, he told Malaysian reporters here Friday.
The prime minister who is here to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) had a meeting with Asean leaders Thursday night and Friday
morning.
All of them also met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime
Minister Taro Aso and South Korea President Lee Myung Bak at a breakfast
meeting this morning under the Asean+3 initiative.
"During our discussion, although we acknowledged our countries are not
badly affected by the global financial crisis, it is important for us to be
prepared with various measures and approaches," Abdullah said.
The meeting in Manila later should result in specific proposals to be
tabled at the Asean Summit in Bangkok where the Asean+3 Summit will also be
held.
According to Abdullah, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso will bring up
Asean+3 proposals to the G20 Group that will hold its summit in Washington. The
meeting is expected to focus on the financial crisis.
In facing the crisis this time, he said countries in East Asia should act
together with China, Japan and South Korea, the three biggest economies in the
region.
There is a possibility that the meeting in Manila later will discuss ways
to
accelerate the setting up of a fund under the Chiangmai Initiative that has been
agreed by Asean+3 Finance Ministers earlier in April to assist member countries
during the crisis.
Recently, South Korea proposed to speed up the setting up of the fund
amounting to US$80 billion, of which 80 percent are to be contributed by the
three biggest economies of East Asia, while another 20 percent by Asean.
This will be fine-tuned by the finance ministers and central bank
governors at their meeting, Abdullah said.
The meeting between Asean and Asean+3 would also emphasize on the
importance
of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), he said.
He said he had also pointed out the need to assist countries to develop
their growth sectors like agriculture.
The prime minister also had a bilateral meeting with Philippines President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Thailand Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Pakistan
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Cyprus president Demetris Chrisofias
Friday morning.
Abdullah said the new Thai prime minister, who had expressed the wish to
continue to strengthen bilateral relations, will be visiting Malaysia soon.
They had also touched on the situation in South Thailand.
During his meeting with Arroyo, Abdullah was briefed on the latest
development in Southern Philippines and the government's dialogue with the
separatists in the region.
-- BERNAMA
