The meeting would discuss the inter-ASEAN economic cooperation and the cooperation between the regional organization and its dialog partners, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Tuesday.
ASEAN internal issues to be discussed in the meeting will include efforts to achieve the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.
The meeting will for the first time involve the United States and Russia as the dialog partners. The ASEAN economic ministers are also expected to discuss the sectors of trade and investments in the region.
"The discussion on investment is important because ASEAN is one fo the three main investment sources in the region, apart from the European Union and Japan," he said.
They will also discuss future plans after the establishment of the AEC and the role of ASEAN in the East Asian region.
As the current ASEAN Chair, Indonesia will propose a theme on the inclusive and equitable ASEAN economic development, and present a working framework concerning the agenda on the equitable development.
The minister said Indonesia was drafting guidance on equitable development for institutions under the ASEAN Economic Community Council in order to narrow down a gap.
Other ASEAN dialog partners to take part in the Manado meeting will be Australia, India, South Korea, China, and New Zealand.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.
As this year`s chairman of ASEAN, Indonesia has committed itself to focusing on promoting ASEAN outward and inward significantly.
Indonesia`s theme for its chairmanship is "ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations". ***2***
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Editor: Priyambodo RH
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