By NNN,
Kuala Lumpur : Economic ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will discuss the grouping’s Economic Community blueprint at their retreat in Brunei on Thursday and Friday.
Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said in a statement here that the blueprint, outlining action plans and measures for the realisation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, was expected to be one of the main topics at the 13th Asean Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat to be held on Thursday and Friday in Brunei.
MITI said the ministers were also expected to discuss economic inputs and issues on the establishment of the ASEAN charter, including the future direction of ASEAN economic integration, according to a report in Malaysia’s New Straits Times newspaper.
“Other issues include enhancement of economic agreements related to trading in goods and investment; measures and action plan for the integration of services sector within ASEAN and issues related to the various free trade agreements (FTAs) ASEAN is negotiating with dialogue partners,” it added.
The AEM Retreat and subsequebnt consultations with the European Trade Commissioner and US Trade Representative will be chaired by Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz.
The ASEAN ministers will hold consultations with European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Akira Amari.
The meeting is preceded by the preparatory Senior Economic Officials Meeting Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The consultations with European Union (EU) will be on enhancing ASEAN-EU economic co-operation and the possibility of establishing an ASEAN-EU FTA,” MITI said.
“The consultations with METI will focus on the progress in negotiations to establish the ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Area under the ASEAN-Japan Closer Economic Partnership Framework.”