OPENING REMARKS (AEM’s CHAIR) 28th AEM PLUS THREE CONSULTATIONS
24 SEPTEMBER 2025 (WEDNESDAY)
WORKING LUNCH
1250 - 1420
NOVEL ROOM, LEVEL 1A
MITEC
OPENING REMARKS BY AEM’s CHAIR
His Excellency Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan,
His Excellency Yeo Han-Koo, Minister for Trade, Republic of Korea,
His Excellency Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce, People's Republic of China
Honourable Ministers, esteemed delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon and Selamat Datang to Kuala Lumpur. It is both an honour and privilege, in my capacity as Chair of ASEAN Economic Ministers, to welcome you to the 28th AEM Plus Three Consultation.
On behalf of ASEAN, I wish to extend our warm appreciation to all Plus Three Ministers and delegation for your continued partnership, and to the ASEAN Secretariat for its steadfast support in advancing our shared economic agenda.
Your Excellencies,
Since its inception in 1997, the ASEAN Plus Three economic cooperation has grown steadily and meaningfully. According to data from the ASEAN Secretariat, total trade between ASEAN and the Plus Three countries reached US$1.21 trillion in 2024, accounting for 31.7 per cent share of ASEAN’s total trade. Meanwhile, FDI inflows from the Plus Three countries to ASEAN stood at US$44.4 billion, representing 19.7 per cent share of total FDI into ASEAN. These figures underscore the importance of our enduring partnership
I am confident that, with our shared spirit of collaboration, today’s session will be both productive and forward-looking, yielding outcomes that will further strengthen ASEAN Plus Three cooperation for the benefit of our businesses and peoples.
Before we proceed to the group photo session, I would like to invite Economic Ministers from the Plus Three countries to deliver their opening remarks, in alphabetical order:
First, may I invite His Excellency Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce, People's Republic of China to deliver his remarks.
[After China’s remarks]
Thank you, Excellency, for your remarks.
Next, I would like to invite His Excellency Muto Yoji, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan, to deliver his remarks.
[After Japan’s remarks]
Thank you, Excellency, for your remarks.
Last but not least, may I invite His Excellency Yeo Han-Koo, Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea to deliver his remarks.
[After ROK’s remarks]
Thank you, Excellency, for your remarks.
With that, may I now invite all Excellencies to kindly join me on stage for a group photo session, after which we will proceed with our meeting.
--BERNAMA