ASEAN wants to maintain stable, mutually-beneficial trade ties with US

A series of ministerial meetings between ASEAN and its partners like Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States was recently held in Kuala Lumpur.

Keeping in view the current scenario in the region and the world, the participating nations underscored the need to enhance dialogue, cooperation and coordinated actions to deal with common challenges.

ASEAN partner nations reaffirmed their support for the bloc’s centrality and for it to implement its Vision 2045, with special focus on areas like digital transformation, innovation, green conversion, energy transition, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, according to a Vietnamese media outlet.

ASEAN and Japan stressed the need to promptly upgrade the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) to include new growth dimensions like digital development, green development, and supply chain.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov pledged to boost cooperation with the bloc based on the United Nations Charter. Both sides agreed to bolster economic cooperation, especially in fields like digital economy, innovation, supply chain, sustainable tourism, clean energy and development of small and medium enterprises. They also agreed to formulate an ASEAN-Russia Action Plan for the 2026-2030.

South Korean deputy foreign minister Park Yoon-joo reaffirmed his country's commitment to continuing and expanding ties with the bloc based on mutual trust, respect and benefits. Both sides discussed efforts to prepare for negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)