Joint Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM), Vientiane, Lao PDR, 4 April 2016

Theme: Turning Vision into Reality for a Dynamic ASEAN Community

1. We, the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, convened the Joint Meeting of the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under the co-chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Liane Thykeo, Minister of Finance of Lao PDR, and H.E. Dr. Somphao Phaysith, Governor of the Bank of Lao PDR.
2. We, the ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors together with the ASEAN Secretary-General, expressed our gratitude to the Honourable Mr. Thongsing Thammavong, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, for meeting us at the Government Office.
3. We continue our commitment to promote economic growth and financial stability in the ASEAN region, amid uncertainties in the global economy. We exchanged views with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) on the economic outlook, risks, opportunities and policy challenges facing our region, in our effort to foster sustainable and inclusive growth.
4. We welcomed the successful launch of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and its Blueprint 2025 that will guide us in our regional cooperation for the next ten years. We endorsed the Strategic Action Plans for ASEAN financial Integration 2025 that have been developed by the Working Committees. We are committed to implementing the Strategic Action Plans to promote financial integration, financial inclusion and financial stability in our region, in support of ASEAN macroeconomic stability and growth.