Those consultations involved Chinese Ministry of Commerce; the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ministry of Trade; the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; other Minister from Australia, New Zealand, and India.  

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu led the Vietnamese delegation to partake in those consultations.

At the 14th consultation with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the ASEAN side noted that China is currently the largest trading partner of the bloc with total trade turnover rising threefold fromUS$113.3 billion in 2005 to US$366.5 billion last year.

Both sides hailed the finalisation of the chapter on Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation (CPTF) in the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area Agreement (ACFTA), which will help simplify and harmonise customs procedures and clear goods faster while ensuring the transparency and stability in processing customs procedures between ASEAN and China.

The ASEAN officials suggested China consider tariff cut for a list of 307 products compiled by the grouping.

At the 12th consultation between the AEMs and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the two sides welcomed the finalisation and signing of the third protocol amending the ASEAN-RoK Trade in Goods Agreement (AKFTA). They applauded the reaching of agreement on improving market access for sensitive commodities listed in the AKFTA.

They also hailed the implementation of more than 50 economic cooperation projects since 2009 which has helped enhance the ASEAN countries’ capacity in trade, services, investment, ship building, customs procedures, energy, agriculture, environment and SMEs.

ASEAN officials and their counterparts from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry expressed pleasure over the finalisation of all chapters on trade in services and investment of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) Agreement.

They agreed to reach conclusion on difficult matters in the next several months and issue a minister-level statement on the full realisation of the AJCEP at the end of 2015.

The officials recognised the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Japan 10-year Strategic Economic Cooperation Roadmap, especially in the promotion of SME development, new industries, technological cooperation and research on reducing non-tariff barriers in bilateral trade.

They also welcomed Japan’s suggestions regarding the post-2015 action plan of the ASEAN Economic Community.

At the AEMs’ 18th consultation with their counterparts from China, the RoK and Japan (AEM+3), the ministers agreed to boost exchanges and coordination among the centres to facilitate and strengthen trade and investment connectivity between ASEAN and the three countries and the bloc and other dialogue partners.

At the dialogue with the East Asia Business Council (EABC), the regional officials hailed the council’s proposals, especially those on assisting micro companies and SMEs’ access to non-mortgage loans.

At the 20th consultation between the AEM and Australia and New Zealand, the officials applauded the implementation of the agreement on setting up the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), which took effect in January 2010 and helped raise trade between ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand from US$75.7 billion in 2012 to US$ 82 billion in 2014.

At the 12th AEM-India consultation, the officials hailed the enforcement of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements in Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and India.  

The Ministers had discussions with the ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC), calling on the AIBC and the two sides’ business councils to make use of the ASEAN-India agreements while agreeing to facilitate and consolidate the AIBC./.

Source: Chinhphu.vn