JOHANNESBURG, May 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Poor countries of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific regions have appealed the newly enlarged European Union (EU) to maintain assistance through fair trade relations and social development.

    The 79-member African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) and the 25-nation EU continued talks on trade and other issues such as the impact of HIV/AIDS on Friday in Botswana's capital, Gaborone.

    Worries about possible impact on trade have been aroused among ACP countries since the EU added ten new members on May 1. Some ACP countries feared that the EU's help would come with unacceptable conditions, such as a rule that would punish whole regions for trade breeches committed by a single country.

    But Ireland's Minister for Cooperation Tom Kitt said ACP countries would benefit from the enlargement because it already allowed ACP countries to export to new members in the same conditions as they do to others, which means bigger market for ACPcountries.

    Addressing the meeting on Thursday, Botswana President Festus Mogae said he hoped the EU with an enlarged membership would not leave ACP countries more vulnerable to globalization.

    The ACP represents about 650 million people in 48 sub-Saharan countries, 16 Caribbean countries and 15 countries in the Pacific region. Some 40 of the 79 ACP countries are the world's poorest countries, and many depend on a single agricultural commodity. Enditem