KUALA LUMPUR: Asean foreign ministers, trade ministers and economy ministers will be consolidating their approach towards improving intra-Asean trade, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
The Foreign Minister said the respective ministers will take part in a forum to agree on an action plan to move forward before the 47th Asean Summit scheduled to be held in October.
“This will ensure our objective of improving intra-Asean trade materialises. If there are trade barriers that we have to take down, we will do that.
“We need to move effectively as the world has changed. The best way forward is through Asean,” he told reporters after attending the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting plenary session here on Wednesday (July 9).
Mohamad said such efforts would avoid instances of each ministry working individually, which resulted in a lack of concentrated efforts.
“There were many documents, agreements and decisions made but less action. We want to see action, and this is what we will be doing moving forward,” he said.
On the plenary session, Mohamad said there were discussions on Asean’s relations with external parties, saying it needed improvement.
“We need a more open Asean to ensure we do not depend too much on just one party. Asean must be seen as a bloc that is open and welcomes more partners when it comes to trade, and more,” he said.
He also said the meeting discussed the need to hasten the preparation of required documents to be signed by Timor Leste as a full Asean member state by the 47th Asean Summit.
