KUALA LUMPUR - THE European Union is calling on South-east Asia to speed up trade negotiations between the two blocs to minimise the impact of the global financial crisis.

EU ambassador Vincent Picket said the two zones have made little progress since deciding to enter into free trade agreement (FTA) talks 18 months ago, Bernama news agency reported.

SIEM REAP (Cambodia) - POOR countries must use trade as a tool to survive the financial crisis gripping richer nations, Cambodia's premier told a meeting of officials from developing countries on Wednesday.

Trade ministers and representatives from nearly 50 nations under the Least Developed Countries grouping gathered for two days of talks in Cambodia's northwestern tourist town of Siem Reap.

CARACAS - VIETNAM'S president hailed his country's friendship with Venezuela on Wednesday in the first visit by a head of state from the communist nation here, which was set to focus on oil and gas ties.