Vietnam attends 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Laos
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan attended the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Luang Prabang, Laos, on March 8-9, during which he expressed Vietnam’s support for Laos' priority economic cooperation initiatives in its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024.
Vientiane (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen SinhNhat Tan attended the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat inLuang Prabang, Laos, on March 8-9, during which he expressed Vietnam’s supportfor Laos' priority economic cooperation initiatives in its ASEAN Chairmanship Year2024.
Tan said that Vietnam is committed to working closely withLaos and other ASEAN countries to fulfill set goals and plans, thus contributingto the overall success of the ASEAN 2024.
He also emphasised the importance of giving priority torecovery activities and connecting economies, especially prioritising resourcesfor new negotiation activities and negotiations to upgrade agreements withinASEAN and between the grouping and partner countries.
At the meeting, participating ministers approved 14 priorityeconomic deliverables (PEDs) put forward by Laos, with focus on three maindirections of recovering and connecting economies, creating an inclusive andsustainable future, and transforming towards the digital future.
They also adopted the ASEAN Services Facilitation Framework (ASFF).
Delegates also exchanged other important contents for ASEANeconomic cooperation such as the status of negotiations to upgrade the ASEANTrade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), negotiations on the ASEAN Digital EconomyFramework Agreement (DEFA), the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition, theupgrade of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA), the implementation of theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as well as initiatives onsustainability in the ASEAN Economic Community.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the ministers discussedwith the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), during which they noted ABAC'spriorities for 2024 as well as its recommendations to promote a favourablebusiness environment in ASEAN in the coming time./.
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Delegates attending 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat (Photo: VNA) 
