Australian FM backs India joining APEC

SYDNEY: Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Tuesday expressed support for India's application to join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which is meeting in Sydney this week.

"My private view is that APEC would benefit from India being a member but there's certainly, from our discussions over the last few months, not an emerging consensus for expanding the membership of APEC," Downer said.

Downer said India was among 12 countries that had applied to join the 21-member group, along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and a number of nations throughout Central and Latin America.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard last week backed India's case for admission to the Asia-Pacific club, and the sub-continental giant's growing political and economic clout is likely to make it a favourite for inclusion.

But Howard has predicted that APEC will extend a moratorium on new membership until 2010 at this week's meeting, leaving potential new members out in the cold.

India has long been interested in joining APEC, which was established in 1989, and believes its geographical location, trade and investment interaction and the size of its economy all strengthen its bid.

India's supporters say the so-called 'New Delhi Trade Express' is too big to be ignored by a forum that includes many smaller nations such as Papua New Guinea and Peru.