Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today participated in the 58th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in Manila, the Philippines. The Meeting 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. The Meeting also advanced the Philippines’ Priority Economic Deliverables, endorsed the recommendations of the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI), and reinforced ASEAN’s external economic relations through continued engagement with Dialogue Partners and other partners. Ministers also exchanged views on the Asian Development Bank’s support to the ASEAN Economic Community. The Meeting concluded with a handover of the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Economic Ministers from the Philippines to Singapore.