The delegation led by Dr Wah Wah Maung, Deputy Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, attended the Special ASEAN Economic Ministers-Ministry of Commerce (AEM-MOFCOM) Consultation, the Special AEM-Closer Economic Relations (AEM-CER) Consultation and the Special AEM-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (AEM-METI) Consultation via videoconference on 20 May 2025.
The meetings were co-chaired by Minister for Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Minister of Commerce of China, and Minister for Trade and Tourism, Australia, Minister for Trade and Investment, New Zealand and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and also participated by the Economic Ministers, Deputy Ministers from ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretary-General and the representatives.
The meetings exchanged views on the recent global economic situation and implications for trade, investment, and economic integration. The meetings also discussed ways and means, including supporting the Multilateral Trading System and addressing global trade tensions, to strengthen ASEAN-China economic partnership, ASEAN-CER economic partnership and ASEAN-Japan economic partnership amid the emerging global economic landscape.
The meetings reaffirmed the central and indispensable role of the WTO at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory and open global trading system. The meetings also reaffirmed the commitment to address trade concerns with relevant countries and resolve differences through consultations based on equity, mutual respect, and mutual benefits.
During the meetings, Deputy Minister Dr Wah Wah Maung underscored the challenges facing regional supply chains due to the current global trade tension and the necessity to work together in the region to strengthen the rules-based trading system to address the challenges. She also highlighted that deepening cooperation could enhance supply chain connectivity, promote innovation, and ensure more competitive and inclusive economies. She further said that Myanmar supports a rules-based multilateral trading system as a means to address current trade challenges, seize opportunities, and uphold fair global trade, and reaffirms to work together with other ASEAN Member States. She added that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0, the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) and ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) could be utilized for the future economic resilience in the region.
The meetings adopted the Joint Statements of Special AEM-MOFOM Consultation, the Special AEM-CER Consultation and the Special AEM-METI Consultation.
MIFER
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