MANADO, Indonesia (Xinhua) – The 43rd ASEAN Economic Ministers and Related Meetings opened here on Wednesday afternoon, involving ministers in charge of economic, commerce, trade and investment in ASEAN member states and dialogue partners.
The week-long series of meetings will be followed by the 25th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting and the 14th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council Meeting and the 13th ASEAN Mekong Basin Development Cooperation (AMBDC) meetings
Representatives are about to continue their work on building the time-bound ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by its target year 2015, seeking ways to achieve a common platform for ASEAN beyond 2015, and to discuss ways to further engage Dialogue Partners and other stakeholders in the process during the series of meetings.