(AFP) - Australia believes it has resolved a long-running feud with Malaysia, winning its backing for a new trade deal with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), officials said today.

In a surprising reversal of its previous position, Malaysia has agreed to a framework for a closer partnership between ASEAN and the trade pact between Australia and New Zealand known as Closer Economic Relations (CER).

The breakthrough occurred at a consultation between ASEAN and CER ministers in Hanoi on September 16.

It came after almost a decade of strained relations between Australia and Malaysia, demonstrated most recently by its Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad sending up the Australian accent during a recent Umno meeting.

Mahathir has long record of opposing Australia's efforts at closer integration with Asia, such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Asia-Europe trade forum, ASEM.

As recently as in February, the government vetoed participation by Australia and New Zealand in talks to prepare for a UN anti-racism conference in South Africa.

The same month, International Trade and Industry minister Rafidah Aziz warned Singapore that the government would not stand for any attempt by Australia or New Zealand to use their closer economic links to Singapore as a back door into the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

Sudden improvement

But Australian officials believe there has been a sudden and marked improvement in relations between the two countries, and particularly between Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile and Rafidah.

"Basically, the minister believes there has been some positive movement in our professional relationship, particularly with Rafidah Aziz," a spokesman for Vaile told AFP .

Australia is attributing the rapprochement to golf diplomacy - a game of golf and a friendly chat between Rafidah and Vaile, both keen players, during a Malaysia-Australia ministerial dialogue in Perth a few weeks ago.

However, another view is that the September 16 meeting in Hanoi was strongly influenced by the terrorist attacks in the United States five days earlier.

Some ASEAN ministers were fearful of fallout from the attacks increasing the likelihood of countries dividing into big trading blocs that would exclude South-East Asian countries.