KUANTAN, 5 August 2025 – ASEAN’s high-level senior economic officials gathered in Kuantan, Malaysia, on 4–5 August for the 48th Meeting of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), the first time since the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the new ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
Serving as the advisory body of ASEAN Economic Ministers and the ASEAN Economic Community Council, the Meeting discussed strategies to chart the region’s economic direction amidst growing global uncertainties, focusing on trade, resilience, and future growth.
Officials from ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste reaffirmed their commitment to a united and outward-looking ASEAN, anchored in open markets and a rules-based multilateral trading system. Discussions centered on enhancing regional resilience and competitiveness in light of intensifying geoeconomic fragmentation, rising protectionism, and new industrial policy shifts around the world. The Meeting also took stock of the progress under Malaysia’s 2025 Priority Economic Deliverables, which aim to build an inclusive and sustainable ASEAN
The Meeting reviewed proposals to improve how ASEAN monitors and implements its economic agenda, including upgrading the AEC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and refining the AEC Calendar of Meetings. Current global developments, including ASEAN’s responses to unilateral tariffs were extensively discussed, along with commitment to address non-tariff barriers and promote trade facilitation. The Meeting also agreed that ASEAN must take forward-looking, coordinated actions to stay agile and competitive amid global shifts.
On the sidelines, the inaugural ASEAN–United Kingdom (U.K.) Analytical Dialogue was held, offering a timely platform to discuss emerging geoeconomic risks and explore deeper collaboration between ASEAN and the U.K.
Outcomes of the 48th HLTF-EI meeting will be elevated to the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting in September 2025 for endorsement and further direction.