ASEAN ministers gather in Philippines to discuss economic issues

Economic ministers from ASEAN member states gather during the opening ceremony of the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings in Pasay City, the Philippines, on Sept. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings on Saturday convened in Metro Manila, the Philippines, and will run through Tuesday.

The meetings will focus on topics including advancing trade and investment, digital transformation, micro, small and medium enterprises development, innovation and sustainable growth, according to the chair, Philippines' Trade Secretary Cristina Roque.

Roque said ministers discussed issues and direction that will feed into the upcoming leaders' discussions at the 49th ASEAN Summit, set to be held in November.

Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn said the gathering of economic ministers reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment to strengthening collective responses to the evolving global and regional economic outlook, including the impacts of the Middle East crisis on the region.