Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has proposed that ASEAN countries agree on a pragmaticapproach in negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) in order to generate real added value to ASEAN businesses, during the 28th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat thatvirtually opened on March 16.

Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the event, DeputyMinister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to workclosely with other ASEAN member countries to realise common goals of the ASEANEconomic Community.

The Vietnameserepresentative also expressed support for initiatives of Cambodia duringthe ASEAN Chair Year 2022, and emphasised the goal of strengthening and diversifying the supplychain for ASEAN to respond to unforeseen challenges in thefuture and maintain sustainable economic development.


Themeeting approved 19 priority economic cooperation initiatives of Cambodia inthe ASEAN Chair Year 2022, which were built in accordance with four maindirections: strengthening digital connectivity, science and technology; narrowing the development gap and enhancing ASEAN's competitiveness; building a comprehensive, sustainable andcompetitive ASEAN; and promoting growth and development of an integrated ASEAN.

In the context that the COVID-19 pandemic continuously causes serious impacts,ASEAN economic ministers discussed ASEAN's efforts in acceleratingpost-pandemic recovery, including extending the MoU on the Implementation of the Non-Tariff Measures on Essential Goods under the Hanoi Plan of Action to strengthen intra-bloc economic cooperation and supply chainconnectivity amid the pandemic, and expanding the ASEAN list of essential goods attached to the MoU - an initiative adopted at 37th ASEAN Summit in November 2020 inVietnam.

Theyagreed on annual priorities for 2022 in the economic channel, comprising 151different contents in terms of trade in goods and in services; investment; facilitatingthe mobility of skilled labourers and entrepreneurs; competition; consumerprotection; intellectual property; e-commerce; micro, small and medium-sizedenterprises. 

Besidesintra-bloc cooperation, participants also focused their discussion on externaleconomic cooperation such as the development of ASEAN's external cooperation strategywith its dialogue partners and partners of potential free trade agreements (FTAs).

Approachesto new issues in negotiating and upgrading FTAs within ASEAN, the economicimpact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on ASEAN, and solutions that the grouping candeploy to limit these effects, were also put on the table.

ASEANeconomic ministers also expressed their support for Indonesia as the G20 Chair 2022and for Thailand as the APEC Chair 2022.

The retreat will conclude on March 17./.