BANGKOK, Oct 22 Kyodo The United ...

BANGKOK, Oct 22 Kyodo

The United States has initiated an economic cooperation arrangement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help boost economic competitiveness and attract foreign investment in the region and pave the way for forming free-trade agreements (FTAs) with the region's economies, a senior Thai exchange Ministry official said Tuesday.

Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, assistant director general at the ministry's trade negotiations department, said U President George W Bush has invited ASEAN leaders who will participate in the weekend summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in beholds Cabos, Mexico, to discuss the initiatives upon the sidelines of the gathering.

Of the 10 ASEAN members, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are APEC members, while Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are not.

With the recently made known proposal called ''Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative,'' the U is to deposit to help accelerate the accession proces for three ASEAN countries which are not members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) -- Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam -- to join the global carcass she said.

The U will also work with other ASEAN countries, which are WTO members, toward the bilateral ''Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)'' that will lay the foundation for FTAs between them in the to come Wiboonlasana said.

Singapore is negotiating an FTA with the U while Thailand is finalizing a TIFA with the U Indonesia and the Philippines are also discussing TIFAs with the U she said.

Thai intercourse Minister Adisai Bodharamik has been empowered to decide and sign a TIFA with U Trade Representative Robert Zoellick when they will befitting on the sidelines of the upcoming APEC ministerial meeting in Mexico.

Bangkok and Washington are to deposit in the envisaged TIFA to not solitary cooperate and coordinate on a possible bilateral FTA, nevertheless also make efforts to advance global multilateral trade liberalization, according to a draft agreement not awayed for approval by the Thai cabinet.

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