October 29, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 5, 1427

GENEVA, Oct 28: The World Trade Organisation said that its 149 members would meet on November 7 to consider giving the green light for Vietnam's accession, a move that would signal the country's emergence as a significant economic player in Asia.

Vietnam's accession, and a debate on a report by negotiators outlining the deal, was included in the official agenda for the WTO's executive General Council meeting on November 7 sent out by Director General Pascal Lamy.

Trade sources have said that step is largely expected to be a formality, removing the last foreign hurdle in the way of its admission to the global free trading system within the next three months.

The meeting in Geneva will take place just five days before the communist nation hosts a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic (APEC) Forum with regional powers and the United States.—AFP