The European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have signed the Madrid Declaration, under which they are committed to cooperating in numerous areas, at a foreign ministerial meeting held on May 26 in the Spanish capital Madrid.
The declaration unifies the two blocs’ efforts to weather the economic crisis and underlines their determination to fight terrorism and nuclear proliferation as well as calling for more regional integration.
The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was headed up by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, who attended the event as ASEAN Chair.
Addressing the function, Deputy PM Khiem informed the European ministers of the ASEAN’s latest progresses in its strive for promoting regional unity and establishment of ASEAN community. He highlighted the important results of the 16th ASEAN summit in Hanoi .
He said Vietnam will continue to fulfil its role as chair of the ASEAN, strengthening and further expanding its multi-faceted cooperation with global partners, including the EU.
One of the various areas for cooperation between the two blocs, he said, is response to common challenges such as restoring the sustainability of economic growth and dealing with climate change, natural calamities and diseases.
On the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting (AEMM-18), Deputy PM Khiem met his German counterpart, Britain’s Secretary of State and some other heads of EU delegations to boost bilateral relations and discuss issues of common concern.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who was representing the EU and ASEAN’s General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan said they were both satisfied with the outcomes.
The declaration highlights the strategic importance of EU-ASEAN cooperation, especially in the context that the EU is the main investor in ASEAN, said Minister Moratinos.
He also called on the ASEAN member countries to show more solidarity in the face of the global economic crisis and refrain from the temptations of trade protectionism.
The EU is increasingly aware of the importance of ASEAN, said Pitsuwan, noting that the EU is ASEAN’s third most important economic partner.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1980 Cooperation Agreement between the EU and ASEAN that opened the door for economic and political exchanges between the two blocs./.
The declaration unifies the two blocs’ efforts to weather the economic crisis and underlines their determination to fight terrorism and nuclear proliferation as well as calling for more regional integration.
The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was headed up by Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, who attended the event as ASEAN Chair.
Addressing the function, Deputy PM Khiem informed the European ministers of the ASEAN’s latest progresses in its strive for promoting regional unity and establishment of ASEAN community. He highlighted the important results of the 16th ASEAN summit in Hanoi .
He said Vietnam will continue to fulfil its role as chair of the ASEAN, strengthening and further expanding its multi-faceted cooperation with global partners, including the EU.
One of the various areas for cooperation between the two blocs, he said, is response to common challenges such as restoring the sustainability of economic growth and dealing with climate change, natural calamities and diseases.
On the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting (AEMM-18), Deputy PM Khiem met his German counterpart, Britain’s Secretary of State and some other heads of EU delegations to boost bilateral relations and discuss issues of common concern.
Speaking at a press briefing after the meeting, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who was representing the EU and ASEAN’s General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan said they were both satisfied with the outcomes.
The declaration highlights the strategic importance of EU-ASEAN cooperation, especially in the context that the EU is the main investor in ASEAN, said Minister Moratinos.
He also called on the ASEAN member countries to show more solidarity in the face of the global economic crisis and refrain from the temptations of trade protectionism.
The EU is increasingly aware of the importance of ASEAN, said Pitsuwan, noting that the EU is ASEAN’s third most important economic partner.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1980 Cooperation Agreement between the EU and ASEAN that opened the door for economic and political exchanges between the two blocs./.
