M'SIA COMMITTED TO BROADENING TIES WITH EU, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is committed to broadening
and deepening relations with the European Union (EU) community, Prime Minister
Najib Razak said Thursday.

"Who could afford to ignore the EU, a powerful global actor on the world
stage and one of the world's leading economic superpowers? Who can fail to
recognise its international reach with the collective weight of 27 countries
behind it.

"In addition to its economic impact, the EU is a highly successful model of
regional integration and international diplomacy," he said when opening the
Malaysia-Europe Forum.

Najib said he believed the EU would increasingly become more involved with
the broader world order by playing its full role in the global economy and by
demonstrating its leadership in the diverse areas of unity and integration,
community and pluralism, governance and policymaking.

He said the EU's track record in integrating old and new European states
into a dynamic community of nations with its single market concept is to be
commended and admired.

He said despite the different histories, cultures and religious beliefs of
the various people, the ethnic diversity, past wars and conflicts, European
countries have come together inspired by one mission.

"In many ways, we are like the EU in Malaysia. We are also 50 years old and
we enjoy ethnic diversity and pluralism here in our country. While we have had
our own successes in ethnic integration and in building one community of
Malaysians of various Asian and European origins.

"We are also now evolving and moving towards greater integration with our
1Malaysia concept where we should accept one another, learn from one another and
come together with faith and trust to build a common future just as has
happened in the EU," he said.

Asean too, Najib said, could learn from the EU, particularly from the stance
of how it has achieved a single identity through disciplined efforts towards
internal coherence of policies and maintenance of a consistent external image.

"Asean too has a colourful history and while we may not be at the level of
EU integration today, Asean has much to offer the world going forward. Though
just over 30 years old, the level of commitment to moving this organisation into
the 21st century is very much shared by the members.

"Our Asean Vision 2020 seeks to create a stable, prosperous and highly
competitive Asean economic region in which there is free flow of goods,
services, investment and capital. Equitable economic development and reduction
of poverty remain very much a priority," he said.

On concerns over human rights issue in Myanmar, Najib said the position
Asean has taken is that there should not be any impediment to completion of the
Asean-EU Free Trade Area negotiations as both parties stand to benefit under the
theory that greater trade opens the door to political reform.

"Malaysia is fully committed to help get the issues to the table and I
hope that there will be sufficient motivation from both the EU and Asean teams
to resume discussions as soon as possible," he added.
-- BERNAMA