From 19 to 21 February 2024, the 45th High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI 45) and related meetings were held in Vang Vieng, Laos, with the participation of the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, HLTF-EI Heads of ASEAN countries and representatives of Timor Leste (attending as an observer) to discuss macro-level issues and orientations for ASEAN economic cooperation such as the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the draft ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan to implement this Vision, emerging issues in ASEAN+1 FTA negotiations, and ASEAN's sustainable development initiatives.

The HLTF-EI 45th Conference noted and provided comments on 14 priority economic cooperation initiatives (PEDs) during the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024, focusing on 03 orientations: (i) Recovering and connecting economies, (ii) Creating an inclusive and sustainable future, (iii) Transforming towards a digital future, to ensure the feasibility of these PEDs. On that basis, the Conference unanimously recommended that the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers Retreat (AEMR 30) adopt PEDs within the scope of responsibility of the ASEAN Economic Ministers. The HTLF-EI 45 also discussed and acknowledged the first draft of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Vision 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which includes six strategic directions and 40 specific targets to enhance the bloc's resilience, competitiveness and sustainability in the face of global challenges and opportunities. Based on the consensus of the HLTF-EI 45 on the structure of the above Strategic Plan, the ASEAN Secretariat will conduct comprehensive consultations with all relevant sectoral bodies in the AEC to have a basis for finalizing this Plan by the end of 2024.

In addition, the Conference also discussed a number of proposals to develop an agenda for the ASEAN Economic Community post-2025 and shared the view that the work of the AEC post-2025 should not stop at routine activities but should develop a strategy to respond to current emerging issues, including the impacts of geopolitical tensions on the supply chain and regional economic structure, as well as specific strategies to seize opportunities in high-productivity priority sectors to promote growth for the region.

The conference also noted the implementation of the following issues: (i) ASEAN's Strategy on Carbon Neutrality, (ii) ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, (iii) Assessment Report on New and Emerging Issues in Negotiations of ASEAN+1 FTAs, and (iv) the status of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

Participating in the discussion at the conference, Vietnam expressed its support for Laos' priority economic cooperation initiatives during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024, and affirmed that Vietnam will closely coordinate with Laos and other ASEAN countries to complete the set goals and plans, contributing to the overall success of ASEAN Year 2024.

The 45th HLTF-EI Conference concluded successfully, proposing recommendations on ASEAN economic integration to be submitted to the 30th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Retreat on March 8-9, 2023./.

(Multilateral Trade Policy Department)