The 16 th ASEAN finance ministers' meeting closed in Phnom Penh onMar. 30, with an agreement to boost regional financial integration, tomake the ASEAN Economic Community a reality by 2015.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Finance Minister Truong Chi Trung attended the event.
The participants said they believe that the regional economy will
maintain a growth rate of between 5.6 to 6.3 percent this year, evenwith uncertainties in the global business environment.
The rate was attributed to a robust domestic demand, sustainablemacro-economic policies and the ongoing economic restructuring in somecountries.
Regarding the roadmap for ASEAN FinancialIntegration, the participants were pleased with the positivedevelopment of the capital market and the liberalisation of capital andfinancial services.
The progress made in customscooperation was also applauded, especially the pilot project toimplement a One-Gate ASEAN mechanism and harmonising ASEAN tariffs.
On addressing the event, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called onthe assembled ministers to seek out new ways of ensuring trust in themarket.
The ministers signed an amended ASEAN Customs Agreement to upgrade customs services across the region.
The one-day event saw the presence of the region’s finance ministersand representatives from several international organisations.-VNA