KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19- There is strong consensus for the the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations to be concluded at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Bali next month.
The US Ambassador-designate to Malaysia, Joseph Y. Yun, said it was important to try to achieve a high standard agreement despite the contentious issues and difficulties prevailing among the 12 countries involved in the talks.
“This agreement is a blueprint for trade, investment and services for the 21st century,” he said at a session with the media to introduce himself as the US Ambassador-Designate to Malaysia.
Yun was nominated by President Barack Obama on July 23 and was confirmed by the full senate on Aug 1 to be the United States’ Ambassador to Malaysia.
Yun said the TPPA was to create jobs and economic well-being for the 12 countries participating in the negotiations.
According to a study by an international research think-tank, Malaysia and Vietnam were the two countries that would benefit the most from the TPPA, Yun said.
“The TPPA is not about a political agenda. It’s to increase trade and investment,” he said.
On US-Malaysia bilateral relations, Yun said: “It’s in a different spot 10 years ago. Relations are improving.
“The basic building blocks such as being an open society, multicultural and multi-ethnic society and religious tolerance have allow the relations to prosper.”
– BERNAMA
