Vientiane Times Story Filed: Monday, February 26, 2001 6:51 AM EST Feb 26, 2001 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The integration of ASEAN has been accelerating since the Asian financial crisis ended. Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brunei had decided to establish a free trade zone with a tariff rate ranging from zero to five percent by 2002, one year ahead of the original plan. Viet Nam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia have also agreed to unify their grace periods of tariff cuts in 2006. Last September, ASEAN also decided to lower tariffs on all commodities produced by member states of ASEAN free trade zone to nil by the year of 2018. Compared with regionalization in other areas, there is no organized forum institution in Asia that is directed by Asians, or is aimed at promoting exchanges and cooperation among different countries in Asia with Asia's interest and concept being taken into account. Amid economic globalization, more and more countries feel the necessity of finding countermeasures to realize greater profits and avoid damages, and of improving Asia's overall competitive capacity by enhancing dialogues and coordination, as well as expanding regional cooperation. Asia Forum is suggested as a fine tool to increase cooperation and dialogues, to avoid brinkmanship and poverty, to make progress with the global trend and to realize common prosperity in the region and the world at large. With emphasis on Asia, Asia Forum will have a great number of topics to be tackled, but economic globalization will be one of the most important topics on the agenda. It will help bring about a powerful international network in Asia and offer constructive opinions and suggestions for promoting economic cooperation and exchanges among Asian countries, and the fusion of Asian and global economies. In addition to holding regular unofficial Asian economic high-ranking and other relevant meetings, Asia Forum will also execute various kinds of suggestions, and carry out economic and social development ideas via economic, technological exchanges, international training courses, development of human resources, with the purpose of eventually advancing exchange and fusion of Asian and global economies. Copyright 2001 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY **** DOMESTIC NEWS BRUNEIAN NATIONAL DAY GREETINGS Lao President Khamtay Siphandone and Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh on February 23 sent messages of greetings to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam. **** ESTONIAN NATIONAL DAY Lao President Khamtay Siphandone on February 23 sent a message of greetings to President of the Republic of Estonia Lennart Meri. **** LAO PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER'S CONDOLENCES TO MYANMAR The Republic's President Khamtay Siphandone and Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh have recently sent their messages of condolences to Senior General Than Shwe, President of the Myanmar State Peace and Development and Prime Minister of Myanmar. **** VIENTIANE GOVERNOR WELCOMES NEW CHINESE AMBASSADOR Vientiane Governor Bounheuang Douangphachanh last Friday warmly welcomed the new ambassador of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Liu Zheng Hiu and hoped that the latter would further expand the traditional ties of friendship and solidarity between the two countries and capitals. **** IMPLEMENTATION OF MEKONG AGREEMENT REVIEWED A conference to review Vietnam's five-year implementation of the Mekong Agreement and discuss plans for economic development in the Mekong river basin was held in Ho Chi Minh City on Feb. 23, according to VNA. **** PRIMARY ScHOOL AND DISPENSARY IN SAVANNAKHET PROVINCE Local people of Phonnakhoun village, Outhoumphone district, central Savannakhet province, have donated cash for a new primary school construction. **** VOLUNTEER TEACHER UPGRADING Volunteer teachers from 10 villages of Thongchayneua, Papouak, Namthoung, Tavane, Viengneua, Viengtay, Donsamphane, Namchang, Thong-eam and Houai-houa, northern Luang Namtha province, had completed a training course to upgrade their teaching capacity. **** CONTRACEPTION TRAINING COURSE IN SEKONG PROVINCE A training course on IUD application technique sexually transmitted disease and contraception was held for medical staff from Thateng, Kaluem and Dakchueng district hospitals, Sekong provincial hospital. **** CHAMPASSAK PROVINCE DRY SEASON RICE CULTIVATION The Agriculture and Forestry Division of Sukhoumma district, southern Champassak province, reported that farmers in the district had transplanted dry season rice on 1,260 ha. **** CAA PROVIDES RELIEF TO SOUTHERN PART OF LAOS Community Aid Abroad (CAA) recently provided relief to Saravane province National Disaster Prevention Committee (NDPC). _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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