The delegation led by Myanmar AECC Lead, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr. Kan Zaw participated at the 21st ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) Meeting and related meetings which was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 9-10 November 2022.
Union Minister attended the Opening Ceremony of ASEAN Business and Investment Summit which was held at 08:30 AM local time in Cambodia, 10November 2022. At the Ceremony, Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN addressed keynote speech.
After that, Union Minister joined the 21st AECC meeting which was held from 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM. At the meeting, the ministers discussed the matters pertaining to the implementation status of 19 Priority Economic Deliverables under Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, progress of cross-sectoral/pillar work which covers ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, Fourth Industrial Revolution, ASEAN digital transformation initiatives and ASEAN sustainability agenda, follow-up action to the AEC Mid-Term Review (MTR) recommendations and the status of development of the AEC Core Elements for ASEAN’s Post 2025 Vision. During the meeting, the ministers endorsed the 21st AECC report to the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit and 2022 AECC Outcome Documents and considered the draft text of the AEC section of the ASEAN’s Chairman Statement.
At the meeting, Union Minister discussed the matters relating to intensifying the efforts of relevant AEC sectoral bodies for completing the remaining PEDs in a targeted timeline and incorporating the review of the implementation of ongoing ASEAN digital transformation initiatives and the analysis of the digital readiness level of ASEAN Member States when ASEAN conducts the study for ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
At the Special AEM-CER Consultations held from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, the ministers provided the necessary guidance on the remaining issues towards the substantial conclusion of the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) upgrade negotiations.
The 2nd AEM-UK Consultation was conducted from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. At the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on regional and global economic developments and noted the progress of economic cooperation activities between ASEAN and UK (2021-2022). In addition, the ministers endorsed the Work Plan to implement the ASEAN-UK Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation.
The Meetings were chaired by H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister for Commerce of Cambodia and attended by ASEAN Economic Community Council Ministers, Senior Economic Officials (SEOM), Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Secretariat and representatives. The Meetings were joined by H.E. Thit Linn Ohn, Ambassador of Myanmar to Cambodia, Dr. Marlar Myo Nyunt, Myanmar SEOM Lead, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Department and responsible persons together with Union Minister.
During the meetings, Union Minister signed the Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons. In addition, Union Minister attended Gala Dinner and ASEAN Business Awards Ceremony, hosted by Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2022 which was held from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on 9 November. Union Minister also attended the Opening Ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in the morning of 11 November.
