The 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings will be convened in Vientiane, Lao PDR from 2 to 6 August 2016. YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the Meeting. The economic ministers will be also meeting their counterparts from the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Hong Kong SAR, the United States of America and Canada.

2. A wide range of areas related to the broadening and deepening of economic integration within the region and engagements with Dialogue Partners will be the main topics of their deliberations. The key topics to be discussed will include:

• 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 the eliminating the Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs); and
• progress in integration of other economic sectors.

3. In the consultations with the Dialogue Partners, the Economic Ministers are expected to evaluate the progress in implementation of the various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) 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, People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

4. Apart from these meetings, the Economic Ministers will also be meeting representatives from 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.

5. The list of meetings is as attached.

 

Ministry of International Trade and Industry
29 July 2016

 

TENTATIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE
48th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING AND RELATED MEETINGS
2 - 6 AUGUST 2016, VIENTIANE, LAO PDR

 

2 August 2016, Tuesday

ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Working Dinner

 

3 August 2016, Wednesday

Courtesy Call on the Honourable Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Lao PDR

Opening Ceremony of the 48th AEM Meeting and Related Meetings

AEM - 30th ASEAN Free Trade Area Council Meeting

AEM - 19th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting

48th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting

 

4 August 2016, Thursday

13th AEM-Republic of Korea Consultations

19th AEM Plus Three Consultations

• Dialogue with East Asia Business Council

21st AEM-Closer Economic Relations (Australia and New Zealand) Consultations

AEM-USTR Consultations

• Dialogue with US-ASEAN Business Council

5th AEM-Canada Consultations

• Dialogue with Canada-ASEAN Business Council

15th AEM-Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China Consultations

 

5 August 2016, Friday

5th AEM-Russia Consultations

4th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting

4th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Participating Countries’ Ministerial Meeting

Gala Dinner (hosted by AEM Chair)

 

6 August 2016, Saturday

22nd AEM-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Japan Consultations

• Dialogue with Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN

13th AEM-India Consultations

• Dialogue with ASEAN-India Business Council

1st AEM-Hong Kong, China Consultations

AEM-ASEAN Business Advisory Council Consultations