ASEAN finalizes 2020 economic vision<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Economic ministers of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian nations (ASEAN) put the final touches to
\nrecommendations for the grouping's economic vision for 2020
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The ministers, in a one-day special meeting here, also agreed
\nto assist the group's upcoming new members -- Cambodia, Laos and
\nMyanmar -- to adopt the association's economic programs.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Production and
\nDistribution Hartarto said the meeting was part of preparations
\nfor the leaders summit in Kuala Lumpur in December.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah
\nAziz said the results of yesterday's meeting would be presented
\nto the summit.<\/p>\n
\"We have finalized our recommendations for the economic
\ninputs. We now are able to perceive whatever we need to do,\"
\nRafidah told reporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
Hartarto and Rafidah said that the results of the meeting
\nwould be discussed more extensively by the economic ministers at
\nanother meeting in Kuala Lumpur in October.<\/p>\n
A joint meeting between foreign ministers and economic
\nministers will also be held to finalize the vision with the
\ninclusion of other aspects, such as political and development
\ncooperation.<\/p>\n
No details were given on the vision. But a Ministry of
\nIndustry and Trade source said a set of goals had been listed in
\nthe vision report as vehicles to achieve an efficient Southeast
\nAsian economic region.<\/p>\n
They included the realization of an ASEAN investment area by
\n2010, along with the promotion of a free investment flows by
\n2020.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's director general for the national secretariat of
\nASEAN, Raharjo Jamtomo, said the meeting did not discuss details.<\/p>\n
\"We talked about vision, what we imagine will happen in 2020
\nin fields such as trade, services, investment and others,\" he
\nsaid,<\/p>\n
He added that the ASEAN vision for 2020 would focus on
\neconomic cooperation.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by ministers, mostly trade ministers,
\nfrom the group's seven members -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
\nthe Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and ASEAN
\nSecretary General Ajit Singh.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar were also
\npresent at the meeting. The three countries would be admitted as
\nfull members next month.<\/p>\n
Rafidah said the presence of representatives from Cambodia,
\nLaos and Myanmar was needed to keep them suitably informed of any
\neconomic developments within ASEAN.<\/p>\n
Besides the vision, Rafidah said the ministers also agreed to
\nnotify each other if their countries made any modification to
\ntheir tariff structures.<\/p>\n
Such notification was necessary to avoid any unnecessary
\nlosses on the part of other members as a result of sudden changes
\nin a country's tariff structure, she said. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-finalizes-2020-economic-vision-1447893297",
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