Delegates to the first meeting of the ASEAN Senior Economic Officials for the 51st ASEAN Economic Minister’ Meeting (SEOM 1/51) pose for group photo. (Photo: VietnamPlus)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair 2020, presented 14 initiatives,priorities and cooperation plans at the first meeting of the ASEAN SeniorEconomic Officials for the 51st ASEAN Economic Minister’ Meeting(SEOM 1/51), which took place in Hanoi from January 12-14.
SEOM1/51 is the first meeting on economy in the ASEAN Year 2020, which mapped outthree main tasks, Luong Hoang Thai, head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade(MoIT)’s Multi-border Commercial Policy, told the Vietnam News Agency on thesidelines of the event on January 14.
Thefirst task is laying out economic priorities in 2020, with special attention tobe paid to considering Vietnam’s proposals for the ASEAN’s major activities inthe year, he said.
Discussionson the grouping’s operation programme in 2020 and unsettled problems hinderingits operation will be included in the second task. Meanwhile, the other tasklies with economic collaboration between the tem-member group and its partnercountries.
Todevelop the ASEAN Community, the first step is reviewing what need to beadjusted and whether any new actions are required, he said, adding that this isalso the top priority proposed by Vietnam, which has received high appraisalsfrom other countries.
Otherinitiatives relate to the ASEAN’s comprehensive cooperation, such as ones onenhancing the framework against illegal fishing in the region, which have also beenappreciated by other ASEAN member countries, he added.
Thereare initiatives regarding intra-bloc food security and e-commerce, according tothe official./.
VNA
