Indonesia Supports Hong Kong's Bid To Join ACFTA

Siem Reap, Cambodia, Aug 28 (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan has said Indonesia supports Hong Kong`s bid to be a part of the ASEAN China Free Trade Area (ACFTA). "We support Hong Kong`s efforts to increase its trade with ASEAN member countries, which are enjoying rapid economic growth," he said on the sidelines of the 44th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) meeting here on Tuesday. The meeting, opened by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, discussed Hong Kong`s ACFTA membership application. Hun Sen said in his speech that the ASEAN Summit, to be held in November in Phnom Penh, would decide whether Hong Kong could be a member of ACFTA. "Indonesia`s stance is positive, because Hong Kong is ranked 10th in the list of major investors in ASEAN. We welcome it," Gita stated. The week-long AEM, along with other related meetings in Cambodia, will bring together the economic ministers of the 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). The ministers will also hold dialogue with ASEAN`s partner countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United States, Canada and Russia.