The 22nd ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat officially opened in Thailand's Chiang Mai province on March 3.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, which aims to discuss orientations and priorities for economic cooperation within the bloc towards the successful building of the newly-established ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

The 22nd AEM in Thailand. Source: vietnam+

The annual meeting focuses on ways to accelerate negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with several trading partners, namely China, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Cooperation in the framework of free trade agreements between the group and its ten partners including China, the RoK, India, Russia, the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will be on the agenda.

The ministers will also debate on how to make ASEAN a larger market through links in production, manufacture, and trade and investment among the bloc’s member nations, and promote stronger investment from the private economic sector.

Later the same day, the Vietnamese delegation will preside over a consultation session between ASEAN economic ministers and representatives from the EU commercial delegation.

Source: VNA