RAIS WILL LEAD M'SIAN DELEGATION TO FIRST ASEAN-MERCOSUR MEETING IN BRAZIL

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim will lead a Malaysian delegation to the first ASEAN Southern Common Market (ASEAN-MERCOSUR: Mercado Comun del Sur) Ministerial Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil on Monday.

According a ministry statement, the meeting will be attended by member
states of ASEAN and MERCOSUR, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay
and Venezuela.

Rais will be accompanied by officials from his ministry and the
international trade and industry ministry.

The statement said the focus of the first meeting would be to explore ways
to increase cooperation between ASEAN and MERCOSUR in areas of trade, investment
and promoting people-to-people ties.

In addition, current global issues of common concern to both regions,
including energy and food security, international financial situation and
WTO-Doha Round would also be discussed, it added.

The meeting would also identify specific areas to help increase positive
competition in the international market.

Towards this end, ASEAN and MERCOSUR could consider sharing each other's
best practices and experience, amongst others, trade, services, capital and
expertise, the statement said.