(Kyodo) - Southeast Asian trade ministers endorsed on Monday a plan to speed up the implementation of measures to further integrate the region's economy, saying a deeper integration will make the region a more competitive regional economic area.
"(The ministers) believe that we should try to implement the agreement that we have agreed to, and if this brings about an earlier realization of our ASEAN economic integration, much better," ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong told reporters.
Ong said the ministers did not focus on the date itself when Southeast Asia will exactly become a single market where there is free movement of people, goods, services, investments and capital.
"For example, should it be 2020 or earlier than 2020 because if we carry out implementation of these agreements, it could come about even before 2015," said Ong, stressing the need "to move faster."
"I think the focus (in today's meeting) is not much with the end date but how we effectively go on with the implementation," he said.
"Actually the deadlines are all there, if we go by the deadline, by 2015 we are finished with tariff reduction and everything. So the idea is that if we implement this, it should be earlier than 2020. So 2020 is achievable," he said.
Indeed, Ong said economic integration within Southeast Asia is "doable" and can be "fast-tracked."
Ong said the trade ministers began the two-day retreat by "reviewing what we need to do," making sure the cooperation among ASEAN is shifted to a higher gear and that coordination is carried out to keep its deadline.
"We need to increase our inter-sectorial coordination because what we discussed in the economic ministers meeting has an impact on other sectors like finance, customs," Ong said.
ASEAN trade ministers are trying to diffuse the perception they are moving slowly in implementing economic integration to create an ASEAN Economic Community.
"The idea is to see how we can operationalize many of the initiatives and schemes for economic integration. There is not enough momentum," Ong said.
On Tuesday, the trade ministers will meet with South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun Chong and European Union Trade chief Peter Mandelson to discuss details of the free trade agreements.
"We have to keep some closure to all the discussion of technical details. What we want to cover, how much is the scope of the agreement," said Ong, referring to the ASEAN-South Korea free trade agreement.
At the end of the two-day retreat, the ministers are expected to sign the trade in goods agreement under the ASEAN-(South) Korea FTA.
Ong said ASEAN is ready to discuss free trade agreements with the European Union "if there's enough political readiness on the part of the EU."
"The ongoing economic and technical cooperation between the EU and ASEAN should extend and increase," said Ong, adding that the European Union would like to increase cooperation with ASEAN.
Moreover, Ong said ASEAN will also discuss the issues of democratization and human rights in Myanmar with the European Union when they meet Tuesday.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
"(The ministers) believe that we should try to implement the agreement that we have agreed to, and if this brings about an earlier realization of our ASEAN economic integration, much better," ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong told reporters.
Ong said the ministers did not focus on the date itself when Southeast Asia will exactly become a single market where there is free movement of people, goods, services, investments and capital.
"For example, should it be 2020 or earlier than 2020 because if we carry out implementation of these agreements, it could come about even before 2015," said Ong, stressing the need "to move faster."
"I think the focus (in today's meeting) is not much with the end date but how we effectively go on with the implementation," he said.
"Actually the deadlines are all there, if we go by the deadline, by 2015 we are finished with tariff reduction and everything. So the idea is that if we implement this, it should be earlier than 2020. So 2020 is achievable," he said.
Indeed, Ong said economic integration within Southeast Asia is "doable" and can be "fast-tracked."
Ong said the trade ministers began the two-day retreat by "reviewing what we need to do," making sure the cooperation among ASEAN is shifted to a higher gear and that coordination is carried out to keep its deadline.
"We need to increase our inter-sectorial coordination because what we discussed in the economic ministers meeting has an impact on other sectors like finance, customs," Ong said.
ASEAN trade ministers are trying to diffuse the perception they are moving slowly in implementing economic integration to create an ASEAN Economic Community.
"The idea is to see how we can operationalize many of the initiatives and schemes for economic integration. There is not enough momentum," Ong said.
On Tuesday, the trade ministers will meet with South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun Chong and European Union Trade chief Peter Mandelson to discuss details of the free trade agreements.
"We have to keep some closure to all the discussion of technical details. What we want to cover, how much is the scope of the agreement," said Ong, referring to the ASEAN-South Korea free trade agreement.
At the end of the two-day retreat, the ministers are expected to sign the trade in goods agreement under the ASEAN-(South) Korea FTA.
Ong said ASEAN is ready to discuss free trade agreements with the European Union "if there's enough political readiness on the part of the EU."
"The ongoing economic and technical cooperation between the EU and ASEAN should extend and increase," said Ong, adding that the European Union would like to increase cooperation with ASEAN.
Moreover, Ong said ASEAN will also discuss the issues of democratization and human rights in Myanmar with the European Union when they meet Tuesday.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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