PHNOM PENH: Economic ministers from Japan, South Korea and China engaged in “serious discussions” about developing their own secure open source software at a meeting in Cambodia on Wednesday.

The three ministers were ostensibly in Phnom Penh to attend trade consultations with economic ministers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, who are holding talks all week.

But they met together afterwards to talk about an agreement to jointly develop new operating system software so that their countries could avert a monopoly by Microsoft Corporation on developing technologies.

“This meeting was very positive,” said Makoto Shiota, director of the northeast Asia division of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. “My understanding is that the three ministers agreed to endorse this initiative.”

The cooperative concept was prepared by Japan several months ago, said Shiota, and the system will be based on Linux as well as other open source software.

He added that the countries would begin to organize the open source software initiative in mid September when they invited the private sector to join in.

“This initiative was based on our concept that open source software can provide great opportunities for the industry all over the world,” said Shiota.

Takeo Hiranuma, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry confirmed at an earlier press conference a recent report that the three countries would discuss plans to develop software for the next generation of “smart” devices.

He added that they were interested in involving other countries as well.

He told the Phnom Penh press conference on Wednesday that after the recent spate of virus attacks on Microsoft operating systems, it was thought it would be useful to create open source software not susceptible to attacks.

A September 1 report in Japan’s Asahi newspaper said that there was widespread concern that the ubiquity of Microsoft Windows and its derivatives would corner the emerging markets, as it has done the desktop PC market, to the detriment of Asian competitors.

Hiranuma added that at Japan’s consultation with ASEAN economic ministers, it was agreed to recommend to leaders that consultations for their comprehensive economic partnership begin in 2004.

The ministers also agreed that both ASEAN and Japan would exert maximum effort to start negotiations at the beginning of 2005.

A press statement on establishment of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area said that ministers were satisfied with negotiations and confident that an agreement would be completed within specified deadlines.

Ministers also said they were pleased to note progress made in drafting a Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and India, the basis of a trade and investment area between the two which could include a free trade area.—dpa