(BSS, 25th) Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Ministerial Meeting on Trade held in Suzhou, China, from May 22 to 23, 2025.
Prior to this meeting, APEC also held several other sectoral meetings, including the Second Senior Officials’ Meeting and the APEC Women and the Economy Forum.
The APEC Trade Ministers’ Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Secretary of the CPC Leading Party Group of the Ministry of Commerce. Other ministers of trade and economy, as well as representatives from APEC member economies, also attended the meeting.
In response to the 2026 APEC theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future for Prosperity," the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience in order to meet current global economic uncertainties and shocks, and supported cooperation to improve the World Trade Organization and promote meaningful reform, while acknowledging that the rules achieved by the WTO are key to facilitating global trade. Ministers also highlighted the importance of digitalization and innovation in creating opportunities and fostering regional inclusivity and sustainable growth.
During the meeting, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy of Brunei shared Brunei’s viewpoints, including: reaffirmed strong support for the rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, while emphasizing the critical need to maintain open, resilient, and secure supply chains amid current geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainties; underscored the importance of advancing regional economic integration through APEC initiatives such as the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP);
At the same time, acknowledged that frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the future Framework for Investment and Trade Partnership (FITP) are important cornerstones for future economic cooperation; emphasized the importance of strengthening digital connectivity, interoperability, e-customs, paperless trade, and digital infrastructure, and highlighted the significance of utilizing digital innovation and green opportunities to promote sustainable growth, low-carbon transition, and resilient supply chains.
In this regard, governments, businesses, and regional partners are encouraged to enhance cooperation in areas such as technology transfer, skills development, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure.
During the meeting, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, also held bilateral meetings with Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Grace Fu Hai Yien, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Todd McClay, and Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, to discuss areas of common concern.
Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade and Industry) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Me Faiiza, as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The ministers endorsed the “2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement,” which can be found at the following URL: https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerialmeetings/trade/2026-apec-ministers-responsible-for-trade-joint-statement
Prior to this meeting, APEC also held several other sectoral meetings, including the Second Senior Officials’ Meeting and the APEC Women and the Economy Forum.
The APEC Trade Ministers’ Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Wang Wentao, Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and Secretary of the CPC Leading Party Group of the Ministry of Commerce. Other ministers of trade and economy, as well as representatives from APEC member economies, also attended the meeting.
In response to the 2026 APEC theme "Building an Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future for Prosperity," the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening supply chain resilience in order to meet current global economic uncertainties and shocks, and supported cooperation to improve the World Trade Organization and promote meaningful reform, while acknowledging that the rules achieved by the WTO are key to facilitating global trade. Ministers also highlighted the importance of digitalization and innovation in creating opportunities and fostering regional inclusivity and sustainable growth.
During the meeting, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy of Brunei shared Brunei’s viewpoints, including: reaffirmed strong support for the rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, while emphasizing the critical need to maintain open, resilient, and secure supply chains amid current geopolitical and geo-economic uncertainties; underscored the importance of advancing regional economic integration through APEC initiatives such as the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP);
At the same time, acknowledged that frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the future Framework for Investment and Trade Partnership (FITP) are important cornerstones for future economic cooperation; emphasized the importance of strengthening digital connectivity, interoperability, e-customs, paperless trade, and digital infrastructure, and highlighted the significance of utilizing digital innovation and green opportunities to promote sustainable growth, low-carbon transition, and resilient supply chains.
In this regard, governments, businesses, and regional partners are encouraged to enhance cooperation in areas such as technology transfer, skills development, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure.
During the meeting, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, also held bilateral meetings with Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Grace Fu Hai Yien, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Export Growth and Minister of Agriculture, Todd McClay, and Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, to discuss areas of common concern.
Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade and Industry) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Me Faiiza, as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The ministers endorsed the “2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement,” which can be found at the following URL: https://www.apec.org/meeting-papers/sectoral-ministerialmeetings/trade/2026-apec-ministers-responsible-for-trade-joint-statement