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Southeast Asia to cooperate over food security
Southeast Asian nations meeting in Bali have agreed to cooperate over the rice market, Malaysia's trade minister said on Saturday, as soaring prices shock a region where the grain is a core part of most meals.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:20 May 3, 2008
Nusa Dua: Southeast Asian nations meeting in Bali have agreed to cooperate over the rice market, Malaysia's trade minister said on Saturday, as soaring prices shock a region where the grain is a core part of most meals.
The issue of food security has dominated the weekend trade meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on the Indonesian resort island.
Malaysian Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told reporters that a statement due to be released on Saturday, a day earlier than expected, would include rice.
Asked whether Asean members had agreed to cooperate over rice, he said, "Yes, yes," without elaborating.
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said earlier on Saturday that rice had been a key part of the discussions.
"We are discussing it within the Asean context, the rice issue may be the most important one, because rice is the staple for all the members," she told reporters.
"So we have discussed it and that in principle will certainly help each other in the context of the Asean spirit," she added.
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