Conclude Japan-Asean trade agreement soon
Saturday, August 25, 2007
MALAYSIA and Japan want an early conclusion of the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (CEP) Agreement aimed at minimising trade barriers and deepening economic linkages between the 10-member grouping and Japan.
A joint statement issued yesterday in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-Japan relations said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe "concurred" on the importance of early conclusion of the agreement.
Abe, who arrived here on Thursday night for a three-day official visit to Malaysia, signed the joint statement at the Prime Minister's Office here yesterday. Both leaders held bilateral talks earlier.
Earlier news reports stated that Japan hoped that negotiations on the agreement could be wrapped up during the Japan-Asean economic ministers' meeting today in the Philippines as to pave the way for a signing by their leaders at the November summit.
The CEP agreement will be Japan's first such deal with a regional bloc. It will liberalise more than 90 per cent of bilateral trade by value.
Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The two leaders also agreed to speed up promotion of regional cooperation such as the study on Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia and the timely establishment of the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia.
Abdullah said Malaysia could offer a conducive environment for the location of the independent institute.
Abdullah and Abe reconfirmed the steady implementation of the agreement between Malaysia and Japan for an economic partnership, which came into force last year.
Earlier, the Japanese premier who started his three-day official visit to Malaysia with a red carpet welcome at the Prime Minister's Office compound.
Abe, accompanied by his wife Akie Abe, was greeted by Abdullah and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
He then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by members of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Fuad Ghazali before ministers, foreign dignitaries and senior government officials were introduced to him.
Bernama
A joint statement issued yesterday in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-Japan relations said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe "concurred" on the importance of early conclusion of the agreement.
Abe, who arrived here on Thursday night for a three-day official visit to Malaysia, signed the joint statement at the Prime Minister's Office here yesterday. Both leaders held bilateral talks earlier.
Earlier news reports stated that Japan hoped that negotiations on the agreement could be wrapped up during the Japan-Asean economic ministers' meeting today in the Philippines as to pave the way for a signing by their leaders at the November summit.
The CEP agreement will be Japan's first such deal with a regional bloc. It will liberalise more than 90 per cent of bilateral trade by value.
Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The two leaders also agreed to speed up promotion of regional cooperation such as the study on Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia and the timely establishment of the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia.
Abdullah said Malaysia could offer a conducive environment for the location of the independent institute.
Abdullah and Abe reconfirmed the steady implementation of the agreement between Malaysia and Japan for an economic partnership, which came into force last year.
Earlier, the Japanese premier who started his three-day official visit to Malaysia with a red carpet welcome at the Prime Minister's Office compound.
Abe, accompanied by his wife Akie Abe, was greeted by Abdullah and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.
He then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by members of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Major Fuad Ghazali before ministers, foreign dignitaries and senior government officials were introduced to him.
Bernama
Business Besides Oil
