A delegation led by Union Minis­ter for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Myanmar’s AEM Dr Kan Zaw participated in the meetings between AEM and Dialogue Partners such as India, Russia, the Republic of Korea, China, Plus Three, EAS, Hong Kong (China), Canada, Ja­pan, EU, the United States, Aus­tralia, New Zealand, the Inau­gural RCEP Ministers’ Meeting and the 14th CLMV Economic Ministers’ Meeting, which were held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, from 16 to 18 September 2022.

The meetings were attend­ed by Economic Ministers from ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong (Chi­na), the United States, Russia, the EU, Canada and their rep­resentatives, the ASEAN Sec­retary-General and officials from the ASEAN secretariat. The meetings were co-chaired by Mr Pan Sorasak, Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia, and the Economic Ministers from the respective dialogue partners.

The 19th AEM-India Consul­tation commenced at 8:30 am on 16 September 2022 and the ministers endorsed the Scope of the Review of the ASEAN-In­dia Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). To review the AITI­GA, the meeting activated the AITIGA Joint Committee.

The 11th AEM-Russia Con­sultation was held at 10:45 am and the meeting discussed the progress in the implementation of the ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Work Programme 2021-2025 and the progress of activities about the Programme of Cooperation (PoC) under the implementation of the MOU be­tween ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) on Economic Cooperation.

In the afternoon, the 19th AEM-ROK Consultation was convened. At the meeting, the ministers discussed the pro­gress of the implementation of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA), the pro­gress of the Joint Review Study of the AKFTA, the Digital Trade Research and ASEAN-Korea economic cooperation.

Afterwards, the 14th CLMV Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held. In the meeting, the ministers discussed the matters on the implementation of the CLMV Action Plan (2021-2022) and endorsed the guiding prin­ciples for the CLMV Action Plan, the subsequent CLMV Action Plan (2023-2024) and the Imple­mentation Plan of the Frame­work for CLMV Development.

On 17 September 2022, the 21st AEM-China Consultation commenced at 9:00 am. The ministers discussed the imple­mentation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) and endorsed the Joint Feasibility Study Report which includes the other areas identified for possible inclusion in further enhancing the ACFTA and the “Joint Ministerial Statement by ASEAN and China on Coopera­tion for Post-COVID Economic Recovery”. In addition, the min­isters discussed the “Work Pro­gramme on Further Deepening ASEAN-China Trade and Eco­nomic Cooperation (2022-2026)”.

The 24th AEM Plus Three Consultation commenced at 10:45 am and the ministers noted the progress of imple­mentation of the ASEAN Plus Three Economic Cooperation Work Programme 2021-2022 and ASEAN Plus Three Plan of Action on Mitigating the Eco­nomic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The ministers en­dorsed the ASEAN Plus Three Economic Cooperation Work Programme 2023-2024.

In the afternoon, the 10th EAS-EMM Consultation was held. At the meeting, the Min­isters exchanged views on the outcomes of the 12th WTO Min­isterial Conference and how the EAS participating countries can collectively take action to miti­gate the impact of the regional and global economic challenges. And then, the ministers noted the ERIA’s paper on “East Asia Post Pandemic – An Integra­tive, Innovative, Inclusive, and Sustainable Region through Digitalization”.

During the 6th AEM-Hong Kong Consultation, the minis­ters discussed matters on the implementation of the ASE­AN-Hong Kong (China) Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA), ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) In­vestment Agreement (AHKIA) and economic and technical co­operation. They welcomed the launch of the Business Guide­book to Increasing the Trade Competitiveness Using the AHKFTA.

In the evening, the 11th AEM-Canada Consultation was held. In the meeting, the Min­isters discussed the progress made on the implementation of the Work Plan (2021-2025) to implement the ASEAN-Cana­da Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment (JDTI) and the report on the progress of the ASEAN Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

The Inaugural RCEP Minis­ters’ Meeting started at 7:00 pm and the ministers exchanged views on the experience in the utilization and implementation of the RCEP Agreement after it entered into force. The minis­ters discussed matters relating to the progress of the work of the RCEP Joint Committee, the establishment of the subsidiary bodies under the supervision of the RCEP Joint Committee and the establishment of the RCEP Secretariat.

On 18 September 2022, the 28th AEM-METI Consultation took place at 9:00 am. In the meeting, the ministers wel­comed the entry into force of the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and discussed the progress of the ASEAN-Japan 10-year Strategic Economic Partnership Cooperation Roadmap and the proposal on “Strengthening ASEAN-Japan Economic Rela­tionship toward ASEAN-Japan 50th Anniversary in 2023”.

Afterwards, the 18th AEM-EU Consultation was held at 10:45 am. At the meeting, the ministers endorsed the ASE­AN–EU Trade and Investment Work Programme (2022–2023). Noting that a future ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement is a com­mon long-term objective, the ministers decided to intensify engagement on trade and eco­nomic issues by pursuing other avenues in the short to medium term.

The AEM-USTR Consul­tation was held at 3:45 pm. At the meeting, the minister noted the progress of the implementa­tion of the 2021-2022 ASEAN-US TIFA and E3 Work Plan and en­dorsed the 2022-2023 ASEAN-US TIFA and E3 Work Plan.

Afterwards, the 27th AEM-CER Consultation was also held at 5:30 pm. At the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on the progress of upgrade nego­tiations of the Second Proto­col to Amend the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Aus­tralia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and the outcomes of the AANZFTA Economic Coop­eration Support Programme (AECSP).

During the meetings, the Union minister discussed Myan­mar’s endeavours in economic cooperation with the dialogue partners and future plans, the responses to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the progress of economic recovery in Myanmar. These meetings are the first in-person meetings between AEM and Dialogue Partners since the outbreak of COVID-19 began.

Together with the Union minister, Dr Marlar Myo Nyunt, Myanmar SEOM Lead, Direc­tor-General of the Foreign Eco­nomic Relations Department and responsible officials also joined the meetings. After at­tending the meetings, the Union minister and delegates arrived on the evening of 19 and 20 Sep­tember respectively.

MNA

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