At a meeting in Singapore (Source: VNA)Singapore (VNA) – A Vietnamese delegation led byDeputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attended the ASEANEconomic Community Council Meeting and the Preparatory Meeting of the ASEANEconomic Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore on November 12.
Deputies discussed issues regarding economic and tradecooperation, as well as intra-bloc investment; reviewed Singapore’s prioritiesand initiatives for 2018; and updated the progress of activities towards achievingthe ASEAN Economic Community 2025 goals.
Such contents will be submitted to the 33rd ASEAN Summit andrelated meetings from November 13-15.
Ministers agreed on the fourth protocol amending the ASEANComprehensive Investment Agreement, which will promote the construction of anopen, free, and transparent investment region that is pointed towards globalintegration.
Regarding the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement – one of Singapore’sbiggest priorities during its tenure of the ASEAN Chairmanship, negotiationshave been concluded and the deal’s legal review is currently underway.
Participants debated new fields proposed by partnercountries for future free trade agreements and wider cooperation frameworks.
Singaporean Minister of Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing presenteda brief on the ASEAN member states’ ratification of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
During the sixth preparatory Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) Trade Ministers’ Meeting, ministers looked into importantorientations directed by leaders that would enable a consensus on marketopening, services and investment, and intellectual property, towards basicallyconcluding RCEP negotiations later this year.
On the occasion, ASEAN economic ministers signed the ASEANE-Commerce Agreement to promote cross-border trade in the region, narrow the developmentgap, and fuel sustainable development. It is the bloc’s first independent dealin e-commerce so far, contributing to creating a safe and trustworthyenvironment for both businesses and individuals. –VNA
VNA
