Viet Nam seeks int'l support to join WTO, says Foreign Minister
(06/19/2003 -- 22:26GMT+7)
Phnom Penh, June 19 (VNA)-Viet Nam's Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien welcomed cooperation from ASEAN dialogue partners to help reduce the gap among the grouping members and said Viet Nam sought further support to implement cooperation programmes.
Addressing the ASEAN's Post Ministerrial Conference Meeting (PMC) in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Nien said that Viet Nam wished to be backed by partners countries for integration as well as in bilateral programmes for new members.
In capacity as the Foreign Minister of the coordinator country's for relations between the ASEAN and the U.S, Nien commended both sides' efforts to enhance partnership, adding that a unified, stable ASEAN with a common goal for economic cooperation for peace and security in the region and the world is vital for relationship between the organisation and the U.S.
He proposed that ASEAN-U.S. partnership should focus on economic ties, trade and investment.
He suggested the U.S. administration to open more widely its market for ASEAN exports such as garment and textiles, to encourgage investment in ASEAN and to support Cambodia, Viet Nam and Laos bids to join the WTO.
Meetings among ASEAN members and its ten partners closed on Thursday after sessions targetting trade and economic issues, the Middle East and cooperation to counter terrorism.
The partners also discussed how to narrow the gap among ASEAN members and raise ASEAN's competitiveness and reiterated their support for Cambodia, Viet Nam and Laos in joining the WTO.
ASEAN member countries met each of the grouping's ten dialogue partners on a one-by-one basis.
ASEAN members signed with Russia a joint declaration on partnership for peace, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
The members and China issued a joint press communique on China's adherence to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. They expressed the hope that the signing will take place at the ASEAN-China summit in Bali of Indonesia next October.
