Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh (Source: VNA) Singapore (VNA) - Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anhproposed ASEAN and the EU beef up economic and trade cooperation at both bilateraland regional levels, with a focus on urgent issues such as supply chains andnon-tariff barriers, while addressing the eighth ASEAN-EU Business Summit heldonline on November 19.
Anh said the EU was ASEAN’s second-largesttrading partner during 2009-2018 and its largest investor.
The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) hashad positive effects on Vietnam’s economy, helping improve the country’sgovernance and legal framework.
The initial successes of the high-quality FTAsthe EU has signed with ASEAN member states will form a foundation for an FTAbetween the two blocs, in the context of both sides discussing the resumptionof talks over an agreement, he added.
Delegates exchanged ideas on how to boostdigital transformation and digital economic development and have a sustainablehealth care system at an appropriate cost given COVID-19.
They also discussed opportunities for Europeanbusinesses during ASEAN’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
Singaporean Minister for Trade and IndustryChan Chun Sing reaffirmed that the EU and ASEAN can be connected by digitalplatforms and standards instead of divided by geographical distance.
A Digital Economy Agreement would be animportant step towards digital connectivity between the two blocs, he said./.
VNA
