ASEAN Economic Ministers agree not to create more technical barriers

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh informed the press on the outcomes of two special virtual meetings of ASEAN on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that Vietnam hosted on June 4, as Chair of the ASEAN in 2020.
ASEAN Economic Ministers agree not to create more technical barriers ảnh 1Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh informed the press on theoutcomes of two special virtual meetings of ASEAN on responding to the COVID-19pandemic that Vietnam hosted on June 4, as Chair of the ASEAN in 2020.

The Special ASEANEconomic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) and the Special ASEAN Plus Three EconomicMinisters’ Meeting on COVID-19 response were held to implement the instructionsof ASEAN leaders made in the Joint Statement of the Special ASEAN Plus ThreeSummit on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on April 14.

Minister Anhsaid the two meetings have achieved important outcomes on cooperation to copewith and contain the pandemic in the region, contributing to the world’sCOVID-19 fight.

The special AEMmeeting looked into the possibility of establishing a public-privatecooperation mechanism between the economic ministers and the business communityin order to quickly address arising problems, thus creating the best possibleconditions for trade and investment in the region.

The ministersreached consensus on ASEAN continuing to work closely together to maintain andwork toward restoring supply chains in the region, making it the top priorityin economic cooperation in the region in the time ahead.

They sharedupdates on the epidemic situation in ASEAN countries along with their preventionand control plans as well as ASEAN collaboration to minimize the negativeimpact of the pandemic on the population of each country and the region.

As Chair ofASEAN in 2020, Vietnam chaired and coordinated with other ASEAN members tobuild the Hanoi Plan of Action on strengthening ASEAN economic cooperation andenhancing supply chain connection to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regarding the special ASEAN PlusThree Economic Ministers’ Meeting, Minister Anh said ASEAN countries and thethree partners of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea adopted a jointstatement on mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According tohim, the meeting reached high consensus on plans of action and orientations of cooperationin the time ahead to tackle the consequences of the pandemic and stem itsspread while promoting economic development, leaving no country or community inASEAN behind.    

 “The ministers affirmed that the COVID-19pandemic will continue to develop complicatedly, and there are many forecaststhat the pandemic is likely to return at the end of the year,” Anh said, addingthat therefore, all ministers of ASEAN and ASEAN+3 agreed upon the highest goalof effectively fighting the pandemic while coordinating closely to restore theeconomy of their respective countries.  

The countriesconcurred to focus on intra-bloc cooperation, create highly-competitive areasto attract investment, restructure their economies, develop open markets andlimit both tariff and non-tariff measures, he said.

Minister Anh notedthat the ministers also committed to not setting up any new technical barriersto facilitate economic recovery in the bloc./. 
VNA

See more

Illustrative photo (Photo: omy.sg)

Singapore’s gold export to US increases sharply

According to data from state agency Enterprise Singapore, volumes of gold shipped from Singapore to the US rose to about 11 tonnes in January, up 27% from December, and the largest amount since March 2022.

The DITP predicts the Chinese market for dried and preserved fruits will reach 335.3 billion CNY (46 billion USD) by 2028. (Photo: The Nation)

Thailand leads dried fruit exports to China

The DITP predicts the Chinese market for dried and preserved fruits will reach 335.3 billion CNY (46 billion USD) by 2028 and is urging Thai businesses to capitalise by developing innovative, high-quality products.

Singaporean Minister for National Development Desmond Lee (Photo: straitstimes.com)

Singapore makes efforts to upgrade social housing

Singaporean Minister of National Development Desmond Lee said on February 17 that 29,000 flats built in 1997 or earlier have been chosen for the Housing Board’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and will get structural improvements and upgrades to bathrooms and entrances, among other things.

Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries is encouraging the utilization of marine biopharmaceuticals. (Photo: Antara)

Indonesia promotes Marine Biopharma in healthcare

The ministry's Director General of Marine and Ocean Space Management Victor Gustaaf Manoppo stated that this initiative aims to enhance national pharmaceutical resilience while empowering coastal communities involved in the supply chain of natural medicinal ingredients.

Myanmar cracks down on online scam centres

Myanmar cracks down on online scam centres

An estimated 220,000 people were estimated to have been tricked into working for romance-investment schemes, crypto fraud, money laundering and illegal gambling in Myanmar and Cambodia in 2023.

People get vaccinated against influenza in Thailand. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Thailand sees surge in influenza cases

Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said there has been a big jump in infections in February, calling on people showing symptoms that could be flu to stay home, to prevent spreading the virus.

Thai PM Paetongtarn says AI technology needs to be adopted and regulated to help drive the Thai economy. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Thailand touts draft AI regulation

AI is expected to become a key tool in driving businesses and developing industries in Thailand, said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

At the Korea-Malaysia Trade Ministers' Meeting in 2023 (Photo: Koreaherald.com)

Malaysia, RoK resume FTA talks

The latest round of talks will take place in Kuala Lumpur from February 17 to 20, with discussions covering 11 key sectors, including goods, services, investment, and economic cooperation.