Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan chaired the conference. Economic Ministers of ASEAN member countries and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn attended. The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs and Finance, led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.
At the Conference, the Ministers shared information and updated the implementation of Indonesia's priority economic cooperation initiatives during its ASEAN Chairmanship year 2023, important tasks of the ASEAN Economic Community such as: ASEAN Strategy on Carbon Neutrality, preparation for launching negotiations on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Digital Economy, implementation and upgrading of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) as well as preparations for consultation conferences between ASEAN Economic Ministers and partner countries.
Economic Ministers of ASEAN member countries and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn crossed their arms to show their determination in implementing commitments.
The Ministers noted that four out of seven priority economic cooperation initiatives of Indonesia, the ASEAN Chair in 2023, have been completed, notably the signing of the Second Protocol amending the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) within the framework of this ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting as well as the launch of negotiations on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Digital Economy at the 43rd ASEAN Summit scheduled to take place in early September this year.
The Ministers also spent time discussing the upgrading of the ATIGA Agreement, handling long-standing issues in the implementation of this agreement, recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration related to the development of the ASEAN Economic Community vision after 2025,... and reviewing preparations for the ASEAN Summit and related conferences scheduled to take place in early September 2023.
In addition, the Ministers also discussed internally economic cooperation activities between ASEAN and dialogue partners such as the United States, China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Russia, Canada, the United Kingdom, etc., the implementation of free trade agreements between ASEAN and partner countries, including upgrading the FTA between ASEAN and China, negotiating the FTA between ASEAN and Canada and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Ministers attending the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Ministers also met and discussed with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on ABAC's recommendations and priorities in the coming time regarding promoting the use of electric vehicles in the ASEAN region, enhancing regional trade and investment integration, facilitating cooperation activities on sustainable development, and maintaining health measures to respond to the pandemic.
Participating in discussions at the Conference, Vietnam actively contributed opinions on issues in intra-ASEAN economic cooperation such as preparations for the signing of the Second Protocol amending the AANZFTA Agreement, negotiations to upgrade the ATIGA Agreement and preparations for the launch of negotiations on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Digital Economy, thereby demonstrating Vietnam's strong commitment to regional economic integration, maintaining an active role in activities to create momentum for regional and global economic growth, promoting economic recovery after the Covid 19 pandemic as well as strengthening regional supply chains.
This conference will be followed by a series of Economic Ministerial Consultations between ASEAN and its dialogue partners scheduled to take place from August 20 to 22, 2023.
PHAM DUY
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