Hanoi (VNA) – East Asia shouldconsider a common regional trading currency based on gold to promote commerceand free the region from relying on US dollar transactions, Malaysia’s PrimeMinister Mahathir Mohamad said on May 30.
Speaking at the 25th InternationalConference on The Future of Asia in Tokyo, Japan, Mahathir said that at themoment countries have to depend upon the US dollar which itself is not stable.
He added that the common currency should bebased on gold because gold is much more stable.
The Malaysian PM said the proposed currencycould be used for regional trade, but would not replace national currencies foruse at the domestic level.
He said the exchange rate of the regionalcurrency would relate to the performance of each country and would helpharmonise regional trade.
Mahathir served as Malaysia’s PM for 22years until 2003. He is now serving his second term in office after last year’selection. –VNA