The Hanoitimes - Under the theme “ASEAN Economic Community: Community for dynamic and sustained growth”, the 4th Meeting of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the 42nd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) and Related Meetings will take place on August 22-28 in the central city of Da Nang, said Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu.
The events are expected to lure the participation of 18 Economic Ministers from ASEAN member states and eight partners, namely China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, the EU and Russia.
As the Chairman of the AEC and AEM, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang will preside over these meetings.
According to Deputy Minister Tu, the agenda of these meetings will highlight the new directions of ASEAN which no longer focus only on economic growth but balanced, stabilized and sustained growth.
AEM-42 and Related Meetings will create opportunities for ASEAN Economic Ministers to discuss key orientations and specific measures to reinforce the bloc’s economic linkages and fulfill the goal of AEC formation in 2015.
It is reported that the year of 2010 marks an important milestone in realizing the AEC goal. Especially, major agreements of ASEAN like the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), the seventh package of service commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) came into effect. In addition, ASEAN will speed up various cooperation programs such as the ASEAN Single Window (ASW), as well as programs on trade facilitation and enterprise engagement in regional integration.
Mr. Tu also revealed that Economic Ministers from ASEAN member states and the bloc’s partners will take this occasion to review the implementation of regional free trade agreements and seek solutions to speed up negotiation process for new trade deals.
VGP