KUALA LUMPUR: Asean Economic Ministers and their counterparts will discuss a wide range of issues on broadening and deepening economic integration within the region at the 45th Asean Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM) in Brunei Darussalam from Aug 18-21.
International Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will lead the Malaysian delegation to the session.
The Asean dialogue partners are China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, the United States (US) and Canada.
A Miti statement today said the AEM meeting agenda includes reviewing Asean’s overall economic performance, implementation status of the Asean Economic Community (AEC)blueprint and progress in the liberalisation of trade in goods, services and investment.
Discussions in meetings will also include progress in the integration of other economic sectors, addressing gaps and challenges, and the way forward for regional integration beyond 2015.
“In the consultations with the dialogue partners, the Economic Ministers are expected to evaluate the progress in implementation of the various Free Trade Agreements and economic cooperation programmes.
“They will also deliberate on the progress in the negotiations to form the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership involving Asean, China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand,” it added.
Meanwhile, Miti said consultations with the US would include discussions on the activities identified for implementation under the Enhanced Economic Engagement initiative and the 2013 Work Programme of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
Asean will also be finalising the work programme to enhance relations with the Russian Federation as well as meeting representatives from the Asean Business Advisory Council, the East Asia Business Council, US-ASEAN Business Council, Canada-ASEAN Business Council, while participating in the Asean Business and Investment Summit.
The 3rd Asean Investment Forum and the 5th Asean China Young Entrepreneurs Forum will also be staged during the AEM meeting.