Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 24 -- The 39th meeting of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council, held in the Malaysian capital on September 23, underlined efforts to deepen regional economic integration and revitalise intra-ASEAN trade, describing it as a "strategic imperative" for building a more resilient and globally competitive ASEAN.

The meeting focused on issues related to the implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and measures to advance broader and deeper regional economic integration.

Announcing this, Malaysia's Investment, Trade Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said that with nearly 700 million people, ASEAN is one of the world largest and most dynamic consumer bases and holds immense potentia...