(VOVworld) - The 48^th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting opened in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday with the participation of 10 ASEAN countries’ economic ministers, the ASEAN Secretary General and other officials. Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh led the Vietnamese delegation.

Opening the event, Lao’s Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said that the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 was an historical milestone in ASEAN economic integration, making the association a competitive area with strong global integration. Delegates will discuss trade facilitation to promote economic cooperation, while designing plans of action focusing on the eight priorities of the ASEAN economic pillar.
They will also discuss criteria and orientations for the building of the AEC as well as plan the direction to implement the AEC Blueprint 2025.
The AEC 48 is an annual event where ministers are preparing the agenda for the 29^th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, taking place in September in Vientiane. As scheduled, a series of related meetings will be held in Vientiane from August 3-6, including the 30th Meeting of ASEAN Free Trade Area Council (AFTA 30) and the 19th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting (AIA 19).