Nay Pyi Taw, August 25

The Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun participated in the 52nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting, the 34th AFTA Council Meeting and the 23rd AIA Council Meeting which held via video conference today.

The Meetings were chaired by H.E. Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam and were attended by Economic Ministers, AFTA Council Ministers, AIA Council Ministers, Senior Economic Officials (SEOM), the ASEAN Secretary General and representatives.

In the 52nd Economic Ministers’ Meeting, the Ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments, including the economic impact of the Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Ministers also reviewed the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025, the progress on the 13 Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under Viet Nam’s Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020, as well as developments in ASEAN’s external economic relations.

The Minister highlighted Myanmar’s “Whole of Nation Approach” for prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of COVID-19 Comprehensive Economic Relief Plan (CERP) to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. He also addressed the issue of Myanmar’s status in the implementation of ASEAN plus one Free Trade Areas.

In the 34th AFTA Council meeting, the Ministers discussed Tariff Liberalization, General Review of ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, the elimination of Non-Tariff Measures, Trade Facilitation, Rules of Origin, Customs Integration, Standards and Conformance under the implementation of ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA).

In the 23rd AIA Council Meeting, the Ministers discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) particularly Investment Liberalization, Facilitation, Promotion and Protection.