Herald Sun: Howard snubbed at Asia summit [24apr05]

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Howard snubbed at Asia summit
By MALCOLM FARR in Boao, China
24apr05

MALAYSIA yesterday used Asia's most distinguished economic gathering to reinforce its veto on Australia attending a regional summit.

With Prime Minister John Howard listening in the front row, Malaysia's Abdullah Badawi itemised why we should be barred from the East Asia Summit later this year.
He was addressing the Boao annual economic forum where he and Mr Howard were the opening speakers.

Mr Howard used the forum to declare Australia was working in Asia and was not going away.

"We are together forever in this part of the world," he told the forum of political and business leaders.

However, comments by the Malaysian Prime Minister jarred with this.

In what was seen as a reference to Australia's close ties with the US, Mr Badawi said summit members could not "seek common cause" with powers outside the Asian community.

He also said summit members would have to sign a Treaty of Amity and Co-operation. Australia has refused to do so.

Mr Badawi later said Australia had not been the target of his references to outsiders, or to the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation.

"It is a matter of principle that I suggested it," he said of his reference to outsiders.

"It was not particularly a reference to anyone."

Of the treaty he said: "When I was in Australia (two weeks ago), Prime Minister John Howard did mention to me about it.

"But what I just mentioned was a reference to a decision made by the foreign ministers of ASEAN when they met recently in the Philippines."

Australia has argued it should be an inaugural member of the summit, which so far will include the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and Korea.

Japan supports Australia and China has been "positive", but Malaysia has opposed the entry.

Yesterday, Mr Badawi highlighted Australia's refusal to sign the treaty, saying it was needed to ensure security interests were "intertwined".



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Herald Sun: Howard snubbed at Asia summit [24apr05]