KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed is leading the Malaysian delegation to the 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings in Vientiane, Laos from Aug 2-6.

A statement from the Minister's office said the meeting would discuss a wide range of areas related to the broadening and deepening of economic integration within the region and engagements with dialogue partners.

The key topics include a review of ASEAN's overall economic performance, implementation of the outstanding ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 measures, strategic action plan to implement the AEC Blueprint 2025, addressing challenges in eliminating Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and progress in integration of other economic sectors.

The economic ministers will also be meeting their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Hong Kong, the United States and Canada.

"In the consultation with the dialogue partners, the economic ministers are expected to evaluate the progress in implementation of the various Free Trade Agreements and economic cooperation programmes.

"The ministers are also expected to deliberate on accelerating the pace of negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) involving ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand," the ministry said.

Apart from that, the economic ministers will also be meeting representatives from the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, East Asia Business Council, US-ASEAN Business Council, Canada-ASEAN Business Council, ASEAN-India Business Council and Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN.