Malaysia Thursday welcomed the Asian version of the Davos World Economic Forum proposed by China to forge a closer economic network in the Asia Pacific region.
The proposed forum was commendable because it would provide an avenue for those in the region to have discussions parallel to other such forums held in Europe or America, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz said.
"We welcome any initiative to have discussion in our own region on issues of common concern and to bring the world's attention to this part of the world," Rafidah told reporters after a function in Shah Alam near Kuala Lumpur.
Rafidah said the proposed forum could be used as a platform to highlight the East Asian perspective of various issues to the rest of the world, such as matters like globalization, market opening, trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and growth potential of East Asia itself.
She expressed confidence that the proposed forum would be well received because it would give good focus to East Asia and the potential of the region.
China has proposed the forum, a gathering of political and economic leaders from Japan, Australia and other regional powers, in 2002 in Hainan, Southern China.
(Xinhua 11/30/2000)
