Ten economic cooperative initiatives adopted at AEM Retreat 27

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attends the 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat (AEM Retreat 27) held virtually on March 2-3, 2021 - Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade

This is the first meeting of the region Economic Ministers in 2021. 

At the event, the participants adopted 10 economic cooperation initiatives and priorities proposed by Brunei as ASEAN Chair 2021, which were built based on three orientations namely recovery, digitalization and sustainability.

These initiatives and priorities focus on trade facilitation, tourism, energy, information technology and sustainable development. 

The meeting also adopted the annual agenda priorities in 2021 in economic affairs covering all spheres of trade in goods and services, investment, facilitating movement of skilled workers and business visitors, competitiveness, consumer protection, intellectual property, e-commerce; micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. 

The participants discussed the bloc's external economic cooperation such as reviewing the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

Speaking at the event, Viet Nam’s representative expressed the country’s support for initiatives of Brunei during the ASEAN Chairmanship 2021, asserting that Viet Nam will continue close cooperation with other ASEAN member States to realize common goals of the ASEAN Economic Community. 

Khanh shared Viet Nam's experience in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the realization of its economic development goals and its commitments to ASEAN and ASEAN Plus frameworks. 

By Thuy Dung