On 25 September 2025, within the framework of the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM57), the AEM Consultations Meetings with Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and East Asia respectively took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, chaired by Mr. Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia.

Also, on the morning of 25 September, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting took place under the co-chair of Ms. Dyah Roro Esti Widya Putri, Deputy Minister of Trade of Indonesia and Mr. Yoji Muto, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Vietnamese delegation attending the above meetings was led by Leader of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam and included representatives from Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 30th ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Economic Ministers' Consultation

The meeting welcomed the Second Protocol amending the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA) which came into effect from 21 April 2025 after Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia completed depositing their instruments of ratification. The meeting was also pleased to note that Viet Nam, Thailand and Myanmar had also completed their ratification procedures and the Protocol would come into force with these countries on August 22, 2025, October 1, 2025 and October 12, 2025, respectively, and encouraged the Parties that had not yet ratified the Protocol to quickly complete their ratification process to optimize the benefits of the Agreement. Ministers also acknowledged the implementation of the AANZFTA as well as the implementation of cooperation, technical assistance and capacity building activities in the past time. On this occasion, ASEAN Economic Ministers expressed their gratitude for the support of the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, especially to the fact that Australia will provide approximately AUD 5 million for economic cooperation programs to support the effective implementation of the AANZFTA and the RCEP.

The 5th ASEAN-UK Economic Ministers' Consultation

The AEM-UK Meeting acknowledged the progress made in implementing the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (AEIP) for the period 2024-2025 and adopted the implementation plan of this programme for the period 2025-2026. Ministers also noted the updated Work Plan to implement the Joint Statement of the ASEAN-UK Ministers on Future Economic Cooperation and agreed to review the Plan to ensure its alignment with the priorities of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

The 21st ASEAN-EU Economic Ministers’ Consultations

At the meeting, Ministers welcomed the implementation of the Trade and Investment Work Programme (TIWP) for the period 2024-2025 and adopted the TIWP for the period 2026-2027. As the coordination country of ASEAN-EU economic relations, Viet Nam presented the report of the ASEAN-EU Trade and Investment Working Group, which notably included the implementation of the Study on the potential for cooperation between ASEAN and the EU in the field of digital trade as well as the successful organization of technical-level Workshops on supply chain resilience.

Ministers also discussed and appreciated economic cooperation programs such as the ASEAN-EU Regional Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE), and the ASEAN-EU Green Initiative to support green transition and circular economy in the region.
East Asia Summit Economic Ministers' Consultation (AEM-EAS)

At the meeting, Ministers noted and exchanged views on regional and global economic prospects, as well as recommendations stated in the Policy Paper “Exploring new areas of economic integration: ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026-2030 with Environment, Society and Governance (ESG) as the driving force” conducted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

The 4th RCEP Ministerial Meeting

The meeting noted the important role of the RCEP Agreement in promoting regional integration, supporting the rules-based multilateral trading system, and removing unnecessary barriers to facilitate trade and investment. Ministers acknowledged the implementation of the RCEP Agreement and affirmed their commitment to effectively implementing the Agreement in the coming time, towards a comprehensive review of the Agreement in 2027 to ensure the relevance of the RCEP Agreement in the context of fast-changing global and regional context. The meeting also noted that the RCEP Supporting Unit (RSU) had been fully operational, thereby supporting the RCEP Joint Committee and its affiliated Committees in implementing the work within the framework of this Agreement.

The meeting also welcomed the completion and adoption of the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Working Group on Accession to the RCEP by the RJC and encouraged the acceleration of the accession process. In addition, the economic and technical cooperation activities implemented within the framework of the RCEP Agreement were also highly appreciated by Ministers.

Also, within the framework of these meetings, Ministers participated in dialogues with relevant Business Councils (ASEAN-EU Business Council, ASEAN-UK Business Council, ASEAN-Australia Chamber of Commerce, ASEAN-New Zealand Business Council) to discuss relevant cooperation activities as well as recommendations of the Business Councils to promote trade and investment in the region.

Vietnamese delegation continued to actively participate and contribute to the economic cooperation frameworks between ASEAN and its partners, coordinate ASEAN-EU economic cooperation, affirming Viet Nam's commitments to international economic integration for the purpose of economic development and bringing benefits and prosperity to the people and business community.

The meetings ended on September 25, 2025, followed by a series of ASEAN Economic Ministers’ consultations with the remaining partners, including India, Russia, Canada, Hong Kong (China) and Switzerland on September 26, 2025.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam