(Bandar Seri Begawan, 9th) Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Dato Liu Guangming, attended the 27th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting (27th AECC) held on the 7th of this month in Cebu, Philippines.
The meeting was chaired by the Philippines’ Secretary of Trade and Industry, Mr. Pascual, and was jointly attended by economic ministers from all 11 ASEAN member states as well as the Deputy Secretary-General (ASEAN Economic Community) of the ASEAN Secretariat.
The conference provided an important platform for economic ministers of various countries to exchange views on strengthening the ASEAN regional economic integration agenda and advancing modernization and forward-looking economic initiatives, in line with the development direction of the "ASEAN Community Vision 2045".
Ministers unanimously agreed that, as the region is currently facing supply chain disruptions due to the Middle East crisis, continued cooperation and joint commitment among ASEAN member states is of vital importance. The meeting also discussed the Philippines’ 2026 priority economic deliverables, the ASEAN sustainable development and digital transformation agenda, and placed particular emphasis on completing negotiations on the “ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement” (DEFA) within this year.
In his remarks, Liu Guangming emphasized that ASEAN must continue to maintain flexibility and dynamism, and view the current crises as opportunities to reassess and prioritize initiatives with concrete impact, thereby enhancing the region’s resilience and preparedness for future challenges.
He pointed out that ASEAN should further strengthen intra-regional trade flows, reduce trade barriers, promote trade facilitation through digitization, and ensure that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are better integrated into regional supply chains.
He also welcomed the good progress of negotiations on the "ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement" (DEFA), and reiterated that Brunei will continue to promote the early entry into force of the upgraded “ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement” (ATIGA).
Those accompanying him included Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade and Industry) Haji Mohd Faiz, as well as officials from the Trade Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
It is worth mentioning that, prior to the 27th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting, the Senior Economic Officials’ preparatory meeting was already held on May 6, 2026.
The conference provided an important platform for economic ministers of various countries to exchange views on strengthening the ASEAN regional economic integration agenda and advancing modernization and forward-looking economic initiatives, in line with the development direction of the "ASEAN Community Vision 2045".
Ministers unanimously agreed that, as the region is currently facing supply chain disruptions due to the Middle East crisis, continued cooperation and joint commitment among ASEAN member states is of vital importance. The meeting also discussed the Philippines’ 2026 priority economic deliverables, the ASEAN sustainable development and digital transformation agenda, and placed particular emphasis on completing negotiations on the “ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement” (DEFA) within this year.
In his remarks, Liu Guangming emphasized that ASEAN must continue to maintain flexibility and dynamism, and view the current crises as opportunities to reassess and prioritize initiatives with concrete impact, thereby enhancing the region’s resilience and preparedness for future challenges.
He pointed out that ASEAN should further strengthen intra-regional trade flows, reduce trade barriers, promote trade facilitation through digitization, and ensure that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are better integrated into regional supply chains.
He also welcomed the good progress of negotiations on the "ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement" (DEFA), and reiterated that Brunei will continue to promote the early entry into force of the upgraded “ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement” (ATIGA).
Those accompanying him included Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade and Industry) Haji Mohd Faiz, as well as officials from the Trade Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
It is worth mentioning that, prior to the 27th ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting, the Senior Economic Officials’ preparatory meeting was already held on May 6, 2026.