Vice President Boediono said in his opening address at the 43rd AEM that economic conditions in all ASEAN member countries were still good amid the present global economic uncertainties.
However he said that "We, ASEAN member countries, must prepare national policies for such things as regional cooperation."
He said economic uncertainties were now troubling the US in connection with its credit ceiling and Europe too was in economic turmoil.
ASEAN member countries now needed to make efforts to bring about regional integration and ensure balanced and sustainable growth in themselves.
He said ASEAN had already been able to make remarkable achievements in various sectors such as in the trade of goods whose tariff has been reduced up to 99 percent.
Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu meanwhile said the ASEAN economic ministers would at their meeting discuss development of intra-ASEAN economic cooperation.
They would also discuss cooperation with their dialog partners, she added.
Among the internal ASEAN issues to be discussed in the meeting include the creation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.
She said the ministers would check the progress of the implementation of the AEC blueprints in the trade of goods and services and connectivity.
In the meeting that would for the first time involve the US and Russia as dialog partners the ASEAN economic ministers would also discuss further trade of goods and efforts to increase intra-ASEAN investment.
The discussion of the issue is important because ASEAN is one of the three main investment sources besides Europe and Japan, she said.
The ASEAN economic ministers also would discuss further plans after the ASEAN Economic Community was realized and the ASEAN role in the East Asia.
Indonesia as the host would raise the theme of inclusive and equal ASEAN economic development in the meeting and present the framework for the agenda.
The meeting would be attended by representatives from he ASEAN dialog partners namely Australia, India, South Korea, China, New Zealand, the US and Russia.
(H-YH/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
