HANOI, Mar 11 (NNN-VNA) – Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), approved 12 initiatives regarding boosting regional economic cooperation in 2020, at a meeting held in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang.
The initiatives, approved at the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Economic Minister Retreat, focus on such fields as e-commerce, commodity trade, energy, information technology, agriculture, sustainable development and finance.
Raised by ASEAN’s 2020 rotating chair, Vietnam, the initiatives are based on the orientations of improving linkages and connectivity within ASEAN, promoting partnerships for peace and sustainable development, and enhancing adaptability and operation efficiency of the organisation.
The adoption of the initiatives is an important step to reiterate ASEAN’s role in cementing regional solidarity, enhance the bloc’s internal strength and uphold the role of ASEAN economic community, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade, Tran Tuan Anh, said.
The ministers also agreed on priorities regarding the economic field for 2020, covering issues including trade in goods and services, investment environment, facilitation of skilled labourer and business-people exchanges, intellectual property cooperation and e-commerce, and discussed issues concerning cooperation with ASEAN’s external partners.
Anh said that, Vietnam also proposed a joint statement on maintaining ASEAN supply chains and facilitating businesses’ access to input materials, especially for small- and medium-sized ones, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak’s effects on people’s life.– NNN-VNA
