The ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting began in Vientiane, Laos on August 1 to gear up for the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM 48) and related meetings.

During the two-day event, senior economic officials from ten ASEAN member states will discuss and finalize the agenda for the AEM 48 and related meetings which are scheduled for August 3-6.

The ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting kickef off in Vientiane on August 1

The AEM 48 will discuss topics from the 22nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand in March and is set to adopt eight priorities for the ASEAN Economic pillar.

The ASEAN economic ministers will also identify standards for building the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and map the implementation of the AEC Blueprint 2025.

The AEM 48 convenes at a time when the ten ASEAN member states are attempting to form the ASEAN Economic Community.

The results of the AEM 48 and related meetings will be put on the table at the ASEAN Summit and related summits held in Vientiane from September 6-8.

ASEAN, comprising of Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia and Brunei, forms a consumption market of 600 million people and a GDP of nearly USD 3 trillion a year.

Source: VNA