Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn during the virtual ASEAN-EU meeting. FOREIGN MINISTRY
A conference held following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) with the EU reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN-EU economic and cultural ties, while Cambodia stated that as the chair of ASEAN in 2022, it was prepared to work with the Philippines, which is tasked with coordinating ASEAN-EU relations during that period.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn attended the conference on August 6, following the AMM meeting with the EU and the 28th ASEAN regional forum – both held via video conference – according to the ministry’s press release on August 8.
The meeting welcomed the promotion of ASEAN-EU relations to the strategic partnership level as agreed upon at the 23rd ASEAN-EU foreign ministers’ meeting held on December 1, 2020, while reviewing the achievements and progress made towards the implementation of the ASEAN-EU action plan for 2018-2022.
Sokhonn said the meaningful relationship between ASEAN and the EU is built on a common commitment to multilateralism, equality, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
“ASEAN-related initiatives – including the EU’s Indo-Pacific cooperation strategy – should support ASEAN centrality and complement the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’ policies,” he said.
He underscored the importance of further joint efforts to strengthen ASEAN-EU economic cooperation and a multilateral international trading system based on legal principles, including through the potential realisation of ASEAN-EU free-trade agreements.
“Cambodia – as the chair of ASEAN in 2022 – is prepared to work with the Philippines ... to ensure the success of the ASEAN-EU anniversary summit in 2022,” he continued.
The ASEAN foreign ministers issued a statement praising the EU’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms with a common commitment to a multilateral order based on legal principles, especially when solving regional and international issues of common concern.
In discussing future targets for ASEAN-EU dialogue, a broad range of areas of mutual interest were identified including trade and investment, the digital economy, connectivity, tourism, smart cities, environmental protection, climate change, biodiversity conservation, disaster management, sustainable development, narrowing the development gap, migration, children’s welfare and education.
The ministers’ further suggested that the two regions needed to fairly address issues concerning trade while they were both strengthening newly-promoted strategic partnerships based on mutual benefits and respect, according to the press release.
To mark the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations, the ASEAN foreign ministers also voiced support for the EU’s proposal to hold a 2022 anniversary summit in Brussels.
