NONTHABURI, Oct 31 (TNA) – Ministers from 10 ASEAN
members have attended the 18th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting
in Nonthaburi, Thailand, one of the first meetings related to the 35th ASEAN
Summit.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin
Laksanavisit chaired the 18th AEC Council Meeting at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani
on Thursday.
Jurin outlined the collective efforts by ASEAN members for
greater economic integration and development.
Since 2016, ASEAN had sought to achieve its ambition set
forth in the AEC Blueprint 2025 through the deepening integration and
incorporation of new areas, he said.
The AEC forms a large market with a combined GDP that put
the region as the 6th largest economy in the world. With a total population of
almost 630 million people, ASEAN is the world’s 3rd most populous market,
behind only China and India.
Jurin pointed out that ASEAN economy had doubled in the past
10 years and attracted foreign investment which grew 5.3 percent last year.
The 18th AEC Council acknowledged the achievement and
progress of the AEC Blueprint as well as considered proposals for Blueprint
revisions, Jurin said.
The economic ministers also discussed the agenda for the
Summit of ASEAN leaders that would take place from November 2-4, said Jurin.
(TNA)
