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5 Asian states agree to boost coope



Subject: 5 Asian states agree to boost cooperation

5 Asian states agree to boost cooperation
The Asian Age (December 20, 1998)

Dhaka, Dec 19: Junior ministers from Bangladesh, India, Burma, Sri Lanka
and Thailand met in Dhaka on Saturday to discuss cooperation in trade,
energy, tourism and communications.
"The meeting reached consensus on a number of proposals for economic
cooperation, which would be implemented soon," Mr Abul Hasan Chowdhury,
Bangladesh state minister for foreign affairs told reporters after the
meeting.

The five countries around the rim of Bay of Bengal formed the sub-regional
grouping in 1997. The meeting discussed areas of cooperation in trade,
sharing of energy, development of transportation and tourism facilities,
said minister of state for external affairs Vasundra Raje. "The trade
imbalance with India can be turned in Bangladesh's favour by importing gas
and other resources in the energy sector," she said. Bangladesh has plenty
of natural gas and attracted huge foreign investment in the sector.

Bangladesh foreign minister Abdus Samad Azad, opening the day-long
conference, said the private sector of the member countries should take the
initiative of investment in priority sectors. (Reuters)