On September 26, 2025, within the framework of the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM57), the ASEAN Economic Ministers Consultations with: India, Russia, Switzerland and Hong Kong (China) took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia. Vietnamese delegation attending the above meetings was led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 22nd ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ Consultation

The meeting highlighted the importance of concluding the negotiations to review and upgrade the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) in 2025 (which is also a priority of economic deliverable for Malaysia during its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025). On that basis, Ministers tasked the AITIGA Joint Committee to accelerate the discussion process and propose solutions to outstanding issues in a constructive spirit, aiming for a balanced outcome and bringing mutual benefits to the parties.

The meeting also took note of India's proposal to initiate discussions to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Services Agreement.

The 14th ASEAN-Russia Economic Ministers' Consultation

Ministers welcomed the progress in implementing the ASEAN-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperation Programme for the period 2021-2025, especially in areas such as the digital economy, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agriculture, energy and climate change. The meeting also highly appreciated the progress in completing the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Programme on Trade and Investment Cooperation for the period 2026-2035. The meeting also noted the cooperation activities under the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN Economic Cooperation between ASEAN and the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), including workshops on transport, competition policy, consumer protection and intellectual property.

ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) Economic Ministers' Consultation

At the meeting, Ministers welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the First Protocol amending the ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) Investment Agreement (AHKIA) and called on the parties to sign the Agreement as soon as possible. The meeting highly appreciated Hong Kong's contribution of HKD 6 million to the Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH) Programme of the ASEAN-Hong Kong (China) Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) 2025 and encouraged the parties to utilize this programme to promote initiatives to strengthen sustainable, connected and secure supply chains in the region. The Meeting also noted the desire of Hong Kong (China) to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and encouraged the RCEP Joint Committee to promptly establish Working Groups on accession negotiations for interested economies.

The 4th ASEAN-Switzerland Economic Ministers’ Troika Dialogue

The Meeting welcomed the progress in developing the Work Plan for the Implementation of the ASEAN-EFTA Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation and encouraged the Parties to finalise a comprehensive, action-oriented and mutually beneficial plan, in line with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and EFTA’s economic priorities. Ministers stressed their commitment to promoting closer economic cooperation between ASEAN and Switzerland to mitigate the impact of global trade tensions and avoid unilateral measures that increase economic uncertainty.

The 14th ASEAN-Canada Economic Ministers Meeting

Ministers welcomed the completion of the Work Plan 2021-2025 to implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Canada Trade and Investment (JDTI) and adopted the JDTI Work Plan 2026-2030, which aims to promote cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, clean technology, agriculture, aerospace, natural resources and financial services. The Meeting noted the progress in the negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACaFTA) and reaffirmed the commitment to conclude a high-quality, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement by 2026. The Meeting also appreciated Canada’s financial and technical assistance to support ASEAN Member States in the ACaFTA negotiations.

Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the AEM57

Within the framework of the AEM57, at the request of some other countries, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan had bilateral meetings with Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the ASEAN-US Business Council and the business delegation of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to further promote trade and investment between Viet Nam and the above-mentioned partners.

At all meetings, Ministers exchanged views on regional and global economic challenges and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a transparent, fair, sustainable and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.

Vietnamesedelegation continued to actively participate and contribute to economic cooperation frameworks between ASEAN and its partners, and affirmed that it would continue to closely coordinate with the parties to complete the negotiations on the AcaFTa Agreement and negotiate the review and upgrade of the AITIGA Agreement.

The outcome of the above meetings did contribute to the success of the AEM 57 and related meetings.

Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade