Bloc to boost trade with key partners

Asean ministers have vowed to work with the bloc's key trading partners to strengthen economic collaboration in the face of global uncertainties posed by US tariffs, says Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan.

- PHUSADEE ARUNMAS

He was citing discussions during a teleconference yesterday attended by Asean economic ministers and the economic ministers of Asean's key trading partners - China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. It took place in Kuala Lumpur, where an Asean Economic Community Council meeting was being held.

The need for Asean and its trading partners to further support their multilateral trading system, which is based on predictability, transparency, freedom, fairness, inclusiveness and sustainability, with the World Trade Organization as the core mechanism, was the focus of the meeting, said Mr Pichai.

There were also calls for Asean and its trading partners to deepen trade and investment relations, he said.