Overview of 23rd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (Source: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung is leading a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 23rd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting which opened in Chiang Rai, Thailand, on April 5. The one-day event has attracted almost 300 delegates from 10 ASEAN member states, and several East Asian, American and European nations. In his opening remarks, Thai Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong stressed that to achieve targets in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025, ASEAN states should cooperate to create positive changes for the world’s economy. He expressed his belief that when the countries intensify collaboration, their common desires for a connected, sustainable and self-reliant ASEAN would be fulfilled. Participating ministers highlighted cooperation in using local currencies in investment, handling trade conflicts and supervising digital assets and cyber security in financial … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends 23rd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting
Asean economic community blueprint 2025
Vietnam, Thailand enhance financial cooperation in ASEAN framework
At the meeting between Vietnamese Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung and his Thai counterpart Apisak Tantivorawong on April 4 (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung met with his Thai counterpart Apisak Tantivorawong on April 4, discussing priorities in finance issues in ASEAN in 2019 and 2020. The meeting took place on the threshold of the 23rd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM 23) and the fifth ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM 5) held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, which will both officially be convened on April 5. Apisak Tantivorawong laid stress on the prioritised themes of the event in 2019, including payment infrastructure connection and sustainable finance, and expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue to tackle the issues when it comes to chairing the meetings in 2020. Dung, for his part, took note of Thailand’s top priorities and said that the Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Thailand enhance financial cooperation in ASEAN framework
Inclusive growth, the future of ASEAN business
Lan Mercado, Regional Director for Oxfam in Asia We, the people of ASEAN, our leaders, governments, businesses, and activists, want an Asia that works for all of us. Le Luong Minh, former Secretary-General of ASEAN, said that they want to advance towards inclusive growth and sustainable development, and its Economic Community Blueprint 2025 pictures a region that works for all – a resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centered economy. In our region, we've seen remarkable economic growth over recent decades; in less than five decades, the gross domestic product (GDP) has climbed from $37.6 billion in 1970 to $2.6 trillion in 2016, driven mainly by the exponential growth of private sector enterprises. In the past two decades, over 100 million people have gained jobs, and millions have overcome poverty. Investment is up, infrastructure is rising, trade is expanding, and regional prosperity has boomed. So, then what’s the problem? Despite this economic boom, … [Read more...] about Inclusive growth, the future of ASEAN business
50th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting opens in Singapore
Delegates take a photo at the opening (Photo: VNA) Singapore (VNA) – The 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM 50) Meeting and Related Meetings kicked off in Singapore on August 29 with the participation of economic leaders from 10 ASEAN member states and partner countries. The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh, participated in the meetings. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted the establishment and development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said the bloc has tremendous economic potential with a strong market of over 630 million people. The grouping’s GDP growth has averaged 5.4 percent in recent years, well above the global average, and is projected to expand around this rate over the next five years, he noted. ASEAN is forecast to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030, just behind the US, China and the European … [Read more...] about 50th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting opens in Singapore
Talks on major trade pact between Asean and Asia-Pacific nations could be ’substantively concluded’ soon: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing pose for a photo with representatives from the Asean member states at the 50th Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting, on Wednesday. — Photo The Straits Times/ANNViet Nam News SINGAPORE — Talks on a major trade pact between ASEAN and six Asia-Pacific countries have reached a critical stage and could be "substantively concluded" soon, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday. Asean member states have been pushing for the trade deal, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), to be inked by the end of this year. It would create the world’s largest trading bloc, covering a third of global gross domestic product. Aside from the 10 Asean member states, the signatories are China, India, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. In opening remarks at the 50th Asean Economic Ministers’ Meeting on Wednesday, Mr Lee noted that Asean has "exerted … [Read more...] about Talks on major trade pact between Asean and Asia-Pacific nations could be ’substantively concluded’ soon: PM Lee