Closer Asian economic ties sought

Delegates from 26 countries are arriving in the Pakistani capital for the 4th Asian Cooperation Dialogue ministerial meeting to promote economic cooperation in Asia.

Khurshid Kasuri: The dialogue will provide a valuable window

The meeting will begin in Islamabad on Wednesday and will be part of a wider framework of the Strategic Vision East Asia.

It will be preceded by a seminar on Tuesday on Economic Cooperation in Asia.

Senior officials from the UAE and foreign ministers of Cambodia, Myanmar and Kazakhstan have already arrived in the capital Islamabad for the meeting.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told a press briefing earlier this week that the dialogue provided a valuable window to forge closer economic linkages with the countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and beyond.

He added that the meeting would issue a declaration and approve the Islamabad initiative on economic cooperation in Asia, which would set forth the vision of common greater Asian neighbourhood.

He said the Chinese prime minister, who would address the inaugural session, was starting his four-nation tour of the region from Pakistan.

Wen Jiabao is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday and is expected to hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf and his Pakistani counterpart Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during the three-day visit.

Source: News Agencies