Officials pose for a photo at the 37th meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The High-Level TaskForce on ASEAN Economic Integration convened the 37th meeting in Hanoi onFebruary 12-13, proposing some important recommendations and cooperationactivities for the bloc’s economic integration.
The event saw the presence of deputy economicministers of the member countries and an ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General. TheVietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade TranQuoc Khanh, who is also head of the Government’s negotiation delegation oneconomy and international trade.
Regarding intra-bloc economic integration, themeeting carried out a mid-term review of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint2025 amid complex developments and uncertainties in the global and regionaleconomy. Basing on discussion results, they proposed recommendations to ASEANministers and leaders to help achieve the blueprint’s targets.
Participants discussed a general strategy forthe bloc in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a legal document managementsystem in ASEAN, and the priorities in the grouping’s economic pillar for 2020suggested by Vietnam, which is holding the ASEAN chairmanship for 2020.
To enhance economic, trade and investmentpartnerships with the bloc’s partners, the meeting also scrutinised somerelevant issues such as approaches to new free trade agreement (FTA) partners,and the negotiation process of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP).
At the event, Vietnam’s contributions,especially those related to ASEAN’s economic priorities for 2020, were highlyvalued by other countries and considered a basis for promoting comprehensiveeconomic cooperation among the member nations.
Officials also looked into Vietnam’s proposalabout a new and harmonious approach to the bloc’s negotiations on FTAs,especially the RCEP, amid complex developments in the world and emergingprotectionism in some places.
The meeting reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to maintainingthe driving forces for boosting regional trade and investment through steppingup talks on the FTAs of the association. Among the FTAs, the highest prioritieswill be given to accelerating the negotiation on a practical RCEP for allrelevant countries.
The recommendations at this event will besubmitted to the 26th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Da Nang city thisMarch. Final outcomes will be reported to ASEAN leaders one month later./.
VNA
