Vietnam commits to promoting cooperation and innovation in services integration in ASEAN

Through the 111th Meeting of the ASEAN Services Coordinating Committee, Vietnam committed to promoting cooperation and innovation in services integration in ASEAN.

From November 5 to 11, 2025, in Nha Trang ward, Khanh Hoa province, the Ministry of Finance coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat to organize the 111th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS 111).

The Ministry of Finance, in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat, organized the 111th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Services (CCS 111).

The general objective of the 111th CCS Meeting is to aim at the liberalization of services in the ASEAN region, supporting businesses and service providers in member countries to operate smoothly and effectively by removing barriers, minimizing policy risks, making administrative procedures transparent, moving towards streamlined procedures, and more convenient movement of natural persons.

Speaking at the opening of the General Meeting, Dr. Chu Duc Lam, Director of the Finance and Industry Economics Department under the Ministry of Finance, welcomed the delegates attending CCS 111 and especially congratulated the representative of Timor-Leste when the country became the 11th official member of ASEAN.

Mr. Chu Duc Lam said that in the context of the world situation with many complex changes, difficulties, challenges, and potential risks, regional cooperation is becoming increasingly important and strategic, in which service integration in ASEAN plays an important role in promoting the building of a dynamic, competitive, and more deeply connected ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

In addition to implementing the results of the meetings at CCS 111, as the focal point of Vietnam at CCS, the Ministry of Finance and other ministries and sectors of Vietnam will continue to focus on and promote research and appropriate policy advice to have practical financial mechanisms to effectively implement initiatives and ideas in ASEAN service integration in the coming time. Through CCS 111, Vietnam commits to continue joining hands with ASEAN to promote the single-window digital platform, simplify MRAs (criteria for recognizing countries' expertise in various fields) and position the application of circular economy principles to service innovation in ASEAN as a new driving force for the service sector.

Overview of the meeting

CCS continues to affirm its coordinating role in ASEAN regional service integration. Accordingly, the CCS 111 meeting includes two main contents:

- Content (1) is the meeting of professional groups from November 5-7, 2025, specifically: the meeting of the Architects' Council (AAC), the Accounting Practice Coordination Groups (ACPACC), Engineering (ACPECC), Surveying (ACACS), Dentistry (AJCCD), Nursing (AJCCN), Medical Examination and Treatment (AJCCM), Professional Services Group (BSSWG), Medical Services Group (HSSWG), Logistics-Transportation Services Group (LTSSWG) with the general content of further promoting mutual recognition for professionals in each field of member countries through mutual recognition agreements (MRAs), as well as promoting favorable conditions for practicing in each field in the ASEAN region;

- Content (2) is the General Meeting from 07-11/2025 to record the results from the previous technical group meetings and continue to discuss issues related to the implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) such as: draft Protocol amending ATISA; determining the number of service sectors/sub-sectors applying the "ratchet" principle (mechanism only going forward, not backward); the principle of converting the commitment schedule in the List of Non-Conforming Measures (NCM List); building the implementation of the contents of the ASEAN Facilitation Framework (ASFF), the ASEAN Agreement on the Movement of Natural Persons; discussing priority activities and initiatives to promote the service economy of the ASEAN region after 2025.

Source: https://vtv.vn/viet-nam-cam-ket-thuc-day-hop-tac-va-doi-moi-hoi-nhap-dich-vu-trong-asean-100251107133708155.htm