Asean likely to invite Australia, NZ to summit for trade talks
AFP, Jakarta
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will likely invite Australia and New Zealand to the grouping's summit in November in Laos for free trade talks, an Indonesian official said Sunday. "Several months ago Asean economic ministers suggested that Asean countries improve trade relations with Australia and New Zealand by establishing a free trade area," said foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa. "There are signs that the idea will be agreed," he said. It would be the first time Australia's leader attended the summit, which also involves Asean dialogue partners China, Japan, South Korea and India. Natalegawa said such a summit would only be "commemorative" in nature and would not be a regular meeting. The Australian government under Prime Minister John Howard had a prickly relationship with former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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