Southeast Asian countries to enhance economic cooperation

The set of proposals focuses on recovery and connectivity between the region's economies, creating an inclusive and sustainable future, and promoting digital transformation.

This program was approved in the context of the thirtieth limited meeting of ASEAN Economic Ministers, which was held on the eighth and ninth of this month in the city of Luang Prabang in Laos. It also agreed on priorities for 2024.

Among the latter, trade in goods and services occupies a preferential position, as its facilitative framework is approved by participants, the movement of people, as well as investment, finance, intellectual property and e-commerce.

As part of the agenda of the meeting, the ministers also discussed how to improve the existing agreements on ASEAN Goods Trade (ATEGA), Digital Economy (DEFA) and competition, among others.

Data from the regional bloc's secretariat known during the ministerial meeting estimated that ASEAN's GDP grew by 4.7 percent in 2023, a figure higher than the global average of 3.1 percentage points.

Earlier this month, Luang Prabang also hosted the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM-Retreat), which adopted a joint statement on the achievements made in implementing the ASEAN Policy and Security Community 2025.

The forum allowed for the exchange of views on the international and regional security environment, as they reaffirmed the need to unify efforts and maintain the central and leadership role in cooperation mechanisms in the region to respond in a timely manner to traditional security challenges. and unconventional emerging.

Speaking during the meeting, Chief of General Staff of the People's Army and Deputy Minister of Defense of Vietnam, Colonel-General Nguyen Tan Cuong, stressed that the current year is a crucial year to design a lasting strategy for ASEAN's vision beyond 2025.

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