(VOVworld) – The 47th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday to put the final touches on the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of this year. 

The Vietnamese delegation at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu.  Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, who chairs the meetings, warned that the 10-nation bloc is faced with new challenges, as "the global economic and political environment was very different just a few short months ago." He said despite these challenges, there will be no turning back on regional economic integration program, that the bloc will stay the course. At this meeting, ASEAN Economic Ministers are expected to discuss measures to build AEC, development of the Post-2015 ASEAN Economic Vision, work out strategic action plans for the next 10 years as well as the ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises Master Plan from 2016 to 2025.

On the same day, the 29^th Council Meeting of the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the 18^th ASEAN Free Trade Area Council Meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur.