M'SIA TO HAVE BILATERAL TRADE TALKS WITH FOUR ASEAN COUNTRIES

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Taking advantage of the 16th Asean Economic
Ministers Retreat which started here Saturday, Malaysia plans to hold bilateral
trade talks with four of its fellow Asean member countries.

"We will hold bilateral discussions with Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and
Vietnam," International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed
told a press conference here Saturday.

The discusssions will be held Saturday and Sunday, said the minister who was
busy attending to interview requests from the foreign media.

For the AEM Retreat, Malaysia is only playing host and providing all the
facilities as Asean meetings this year are chaired by Vietnam which took over as
Asean Chairman from Thailand this year.

Vietnam will also play host to two Asean Summits to be held in April and
October this year, Mustapa said.

The AEM Retreat is held every year to enable the ministers from all 10
member countries to exchange views and address issues related to Asean's
economic integration plans as well as its economic relations with its dialogue
partners.

A major topic in agenda this year will be Asean's future direction and
following the implementation of the Asean Economic Community scheduled for 2015.

At the weekend retreat, Asean Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan
will also also table the AEC Scorecard.

The AEC Scorecard tracks the implementation of the AEC measures in all
areas, from intra-Asean liberalisation in goods, services, investment, food,
work on harmonisation of standards and conference, cooperation activities in
competition policy, intellectual property rights, and consumerism to Asean's
external relations namely, free trade agreements (FTAs).

--BERNAMA



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