Beijing's WTO entry seen as start of Asia 'axis of virtue'

SINGAPORE -- China's entrance into the World Trade Organization does not represent a threat to the economic well-being of either Japan or the ASEAN countries. Rather, it marks the beginning of an axis of virtue in East and Southeast Asia and trade and investment opportunities for all.

Likewise, Japan's recently concluded free-trade agreement with Singapore can serve as a long-term model for other, similar agreements between Japan and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, although sensitive sectors like agriculture will continue to be a problem.

These were just several of the comments that marked a symposium titled "Economic Partnership Between ASEAN, Japan and China: Opportunities and Challenges," held March 25 in Singapore. The symposium, jointly sponsored by the Singapore-based Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and Keizai Koho Center (Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs), featured a distinguished panel of guest speakers from Japan, China and several ASEAN countries and attracted nearly 150 government, business and academic leaders from around the world.