Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh (Photo: VNA)Da Nang (VNA) – APECministers agreed to continue discussing the Action Plan to Implement the LimaDeclaration on Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) at the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting, which concluded in the central city of Da Nang onNovember 9.
Responding to reporters’queries at a press conference at the International Media Centre in Da Nang onthe same day, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Co-chair of theAMM-29, said during 2017, at many forums and cooperation frameworks, theeconomies studied and worked together to define basic contents and prioritiesto be included in the Action Plan.
However, at this meeting, the ministers decided to not adopt the plan, he said.
He explained that APECincludes 21 member economies in four different continents with differentsocio-economic development, and diverse priorities and concerns so the buildingof a specific action plan to realise the Lima Declaration on FTAAP is notsimple.
“In fact, despite great efforts, there remain differences inchoosing specific areas, programmes and contents to be included in the actionplan,” he said.
Therefore, the APEC ministers decided to need more time for discussion on thebasis of consensus on priority contents and programmes of each member. The actionplan is expected be completed in 2018.
Regarding the meeting betweenministers of TPP members held on the sidelines of the AMM-29, Minister TranTuan Anh said the event is the continuation of exchanges and working sessionsbetween chief negotiators of TPP members in the last four consecutivenegotiation rounds as well as in line with the spirit and announcements at the29th AMM and the 23rd Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Hanoilast May.
The ministers of the 11TPP members are making further efforts to maintain a high quality, balanced andsuitable agreement that ensures the interests of participating countries inorder to continue bringing about common benefits through trade liberalisation, marketopening, integration and further reforms, he said.
With the US withdrawal, the11 remaining members will continue making efforts to reach the deal. Obviously,in the new context, the TPP countries have a lot of issues that should be discussedto gain consensus, he added.-VNA
Responding to reporters’queries at a press conference at the International Media Centre in Da Nang onthe same day, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Co-chair of theAMM-29, said during 2017, at many forums and cooperation frameworks, theeconomies studied and worked together to define basic contents and prioritiesto be included in the Action Plan.
However, at this meeting, the ministers decided to not adopt the plan, he said.
He explained that APECincludes 21 member economies in four different continents with differentsocio-economic development, and diverse priorities and concerns so the buildingof a specific action plan to realise the Lima Declaration on FTAAP is notsimple.
“In fact, despite great efforts, there remain differences inchoosing specific areas, programmes and contents to be included in the actionplan,” he said.
Therefore, the APEC ministers decided to need more time for discussion on thebasis of consensus on priority contents and programmes of each member. The actionplan is expected be completed in 2018.
Regarding the meeting betweenministers of TPP members held on the sidelines of the AMM-29, Minister TranTuan Anh said the event is the continuation of exchanges and working sessionsbetween chief negotiators of TPP members in the last four consecutivenegotiation rounds as well as in line with the spirit and announcements at the29th AMM and the 23rd Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Hanoilast May.
The ministers of the 11TPP members are making further efforts to maintain a high quality, balanced andsuitable agreement that ensures the interests of participating countries inorder to continue bringing about common benefits through trade liberalisation, marketopening, integration and further reforms, he said.
With the US withdrawal, the11 remaining members will continue making efforts to reach the deal. Obviously,in the new context, the TPP countries have a lot of issues that should be discussedto gain consensus, he added.-VNA
VNA
