Vietnam has made specific and important contributions to the success of the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and related events that took place in Vientiane in early August, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said. 

In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Laos, the minister said the Vietnamese delegation active participated in discussions on various topics, and the country’s views received approval from other participants. 

He also noted that Vietnam has implemented several major projects of the ASEAN, including the issuance of certificates on origin or the ASEAN one-door mechanism, helping the bloc achieve a breakthrough in connectivity and facilitate regional enterprises’ market access. 

The minister added that Vietnam worked closely with other ASEAN countries in boosting ties with partners, such as in completing frameworks for cooperation with China on enhancing production capacity, and plans on development e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises under the initiatives of the Republic of Korea and Japan. 

The 48 th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and related events were the first of its kind that took place after the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community in December 2015. The events focused on reviewing AEC cooperative frameworks and mechanism and adopting specific directions and policies for the AEC. 

In addition, consultation meetings between ASEAN and partner countries provided an occasion for the bloc’s members and partners to look at how to improve institutions and frameworks for cooperation between ASEAN and partners. 

A series of related meetings were held in Vientiane from August 3-6 in the framework of the 48 th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and related events, including the 30th Meeting of ASEAN Free Trade Area Council (AFTA 30), the 19th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting (AIA 19), the 4th EAS Economic Ministers Meeting, the 8th Mekong-Japan Economic Ministers’ Meeting, the 8th CLMV Economic Ministers’ Meeting, and AEM Consultations with nine ASEAN partners: India, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the US, Russia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and China. 

The ASEAN comprises of 10 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

VNA