EU diplomat hails Vietnam’s role in cooperation with ASEAN

Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to ASEAN Ambassador Igor Driesmans has hailed Vietnam as not only a major bilateral partner but also an important partner of the EU in cooperation with ASEAN.
EU diplomat hails Vietnam’s role in cooperation with ASEAN ảnh 1Illustrative image (Photo: aseanbriefing.com)

Jakarta(VNA) – Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to ASEAN Ambassador IgorDriesmans has hailed Vietnam as not only a major bilateral partner but also animportant partner of the EU in cooperation with ASEAN.

Talking with aVietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Indonesia on December 7 ahead of PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands andBelgium for the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit marking the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU ties from December 9-15, Driesmans also heraldedVietnam as a Southeast Asian nation that the EU has a solid relationship with andthe EU-Vietnam cooperation framework is now robust.

On the meaning of thefirst EU-ASEAN Summit scheduled for December 14, he said it is quite historic that 27 European heads of state andgovernment plus the EU's two institutional presidents will meet with all of theASEAN leaders, which has never happened before.

He affirmed that the summit issignificant because it reinforces the bilateral relationship between the EU andASEAN even further, but also sends a message to the rest of the world that theyare committed to working together. And in the difficult geopolitical times, theytogether chose for more cooperation, more partnership, instead of entering intofurther competition.

About the summit’sagenda, Driesmans revealed that some majorinvestments from the EU into ASEAN will be announced. These will be helpful for thesustainable development of the region, in clean energy, digital transition and sustainable infrastructure.

EU diplomat hails Vietnam’s role in cooperation with ASEAN ảnh 2Ambassador Igor Driesmans, head of the EU Delegation to ASEAN, grants an interview to the media. (Photo: VNA)

Asked about the position of ASEAN in theIndo-Pacific strategy that has recently announced by the EU, he said it is a surprise tocount how many times ASEAN was mentioned in the Indo-Pacific strategy, ASEAN isreally central to the EU’s approach to the Indo Pacific, because a strong ASEANis central.

“Strong ASEAN is good for the EU, becauseit helps to stabilise the different geopolitical tensions there are, we needthat security architecture, that institutional anchor within the region. And ofcourse, a strong ASEAN is also good for its own citizens, hence, for itsprosperity, hence, as a trade partner with us. So that's why we've invested somuch into this partnership, because we think it's also good for us in Europe”,he added.

Regarding the EU-ASEAN cooperation in recent years, the ambassador said both sidesestablished a strategic partnership in 2020, which has grown into a verycomprehensive partnership. The EU is actually the most comprehensive partner that ASEAN has with 20 differentdialogues.

“Just this week, there is a conference onhigh speed computing, we work together on the road transport, on climatechange, on human rights, on so many things. So I think the most comprehensive,we're also the biggest contributor financially to different work streams of ASEANas a regional organization,” he noted.

“And we are, of course, a pivotaleconomic partner. We're the third largest trade partner of ASEAN and viceversa. ASEAN is our third largest trade partner. And just if you look at theinflows of investments, the so called foreign direct investment inflows justlast year in 2021, we ranked second. So our relationship, our partnership isvery tight despite that we're on the other side of the world . They were veryconnected in many different ways”.

According to him, the EU and ASEAN need to doeven more together to stimulate respective green transactions.

“We need to become carbon neutral asEurope but eventually also as ASEAN as the world. That's what we have committedto do in the different climate change conferences. So that will require a lotof cooperation, that will require that we work together to strengthen cleanenergy, renewable energy. That means more investment from Europe. That meansalso a stronger political cooperation on these sometimes difficult topics,” he said.

He also suggested working together onconnecting each other. Recently, they signed a comprehensive air transportagreement, which is a very big deal looking into a kind of a single aviationspace, the 37 countries of the EU and ASEAN.

The diplomatic called on working togetherfurther on security aspects, saying that together, they could be strongproponents of a rules-based international order to guarantee peace andstability and work together to promote these basic values./.

VNA

See more

The RoK's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok speaks at a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts in Georgia. (Photo: Yonhap)

ASEAN+3 to create new financing facility against regional crises

The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.

Thailand to apply VAT on imports sent via post

Thailand to apply VAT on imports sent via post

The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
Malaysia asserts pioneering role in halal industry

Malaysia asserts pioneering role in halal industry

Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
ASEAN Future Forum 2024 enters first session

ASEAN Future Forum 2024 enters first session

The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
ASEAN youth empowered to unleash potential: ASEAN chief

ASEAN youth empowered to unleash potential: ASEAN chief

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
ASEAN bolsters intellectual property cooperation

ASEAN bolsters intellectual property cooperation

The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.