ASEAN-EU Senior Officials Meetings opened in Thailand (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The EuropeanUnion has reiterated its support of ASEAN’s central role in the formingregional structure in East Asia.
At the ASEAN-EU Senior Officials Meetings(SOM) which took place in Bangkok, Thailand on July 5-6, the EU also affirmedits resolve to promote multilateralism and regional linkages, includingintensive cooperation with ASEAN. The EU considers ASEAN an important andsuccessful partner in the regional linkage process.
EU officials expressed the wish toearly elevate the ASEAN-EU ties to a strategic partnership and to participatemore deeply in ASEAN-led regional mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS)and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ). They described themechanisms as important frameworks for EU, ASEAN and partners to join hands toaddress regional challenges.
The EU also committed to acceleratingthe signing and negotiations of free trade agreements with ASEAN members, firstof all those with Singapore and Vietnam, and then with Thailand and Indonesiain the coming time, thus creating the foundation for increasing bilateral tradeand investment, and looking towards an FTA between the two blocs.
The ASEAN called for the earlycompletion of ASEAN-EU plan of actions for 2018-2022 to create a framework tostrengthen the comprehensive cooperation between the two sides.
ASEAN appreciated EU projects intrade facilitation, education and Mekong basin sustainable development, andproposed that EU devise more support schemes in the fields of small-,medium-sized and micro enterprises, regional connectivity, development gapreduction and hi-tech application.
The two sides discussed measures tostrengthen their affiliation in many areas, particularly maritime and cybersecurity, anti-terrorism, border management and the control of humantrafficking and illegal migration, in the context of worsening globalchallenges.
Several hot spots in the region andthe world were also mentioned in the discussion. The EU affirmed the importanceof maintaining security and safety of maritime and aviation in the East Sea, throughwhich 40 percent of EU’s cargo volume has to go. It underlined that disputes shouldbe solved by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law,including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the EU is ready toshare its experience in the aspect.
To mark 40 years of the ASEAN-EUdialogue relationship, the two sides agreed to organize more cultural andeducational exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.
The two sides acknowledged theprogress in negotiations on the ASEAN-EU aviation transport agreement. At theupcoming ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting, they expected to adopt the ASEAN-EU planof actions for 2018-2022 and issue a joint statement on the occasion of theASEAN-EU ties.
Addressing the SOM, head of the Vietnamesedelegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung stressed Vietnam attachesimportance to ASEAN-EU relations, and supports ASEAN-EU cooperation to promotemultilateralism, regional linkages, trade liberalisation and respect for internationallaw.
At the regional level, the two sidesshould work together and share experience in building people-oriented andpeople-centre communities and creating favourable conditions for thecooperation and development of each country and the region, Dung said.
He went on to say that toward thisgoal, ASEAN partners, including the EU, should back ASEAN’s central role andhelp ASEAN build a rule-based community, enhance the efficiency of regionalmechanisms, and promote dialogue, cooperation and preventive diplomacy for conflictmanagement in the region.
The deputy minister shared Vietnam’sview on the East Sea and appreciated the EU’s view on the issue, requesting thatthe EU continue to back efforts to solve disputes by peaceful means on thebasis of international law, respect for legal and diplomatic processes, andadvocate the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early formation of a legally-binding Codeof Conduct on the East Sea (COC).
The ASEAN-EU SOM took place on July 5and 6 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The ASEAN, which groups 10 SoutheastAsian nations, is now the third largest trade partner and a major investmentmarket of the EU.-VNA
VNA
