Economic and Trade Ministers Eye Building Broader Community

ASEAN economic ministers kicked off the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ （AEM） meeting and related meetings in Manila on Sept. 7 to discuss ways to further strengthen economic ties and integrate trade and investment in Southeast Asia.

Also participating in the meeting were economic and trade ministers from ASEAN dialogue partners — Australia， Canada， China， India， Japan， South Korea， New Zealand， Russia and the United States.

ASEAN and its three East Asian dialogue partners — China， Japan and South Korea — reaffirmed their intention to further intensify economic cooperation to build a stronger 10+3 community.

Philippine Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo told a news briefing that 10+3 ministers reaffirmed further cooperation efforts with the development of the renewed 10+3 Economic Work Plan that will set broader goals of building a stronger community in the long run.