Viet Nam Human Rights
EU continues supporting ASEAN community
24/10/14
The
informal ASEAN-EU Summit was held on October 16. This is the first high-level
meeting between ASEAN and the EU under the co-chair of Vietnam and EU.
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with the role of coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations
has co-chaired the meeting with the presidents of the European Council Herman
Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. President of
Myanmar Thein Sein, Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha, the European
Commissioner for External Relations Federica Mogherini, Head of EU SOM Viorel
Isticioaia Budura and ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh also attended the
meeting.
The two
sides reviewed and evaluated ASEAN-EU cooperation at the same time set out the
directions to elevate and promote the ASEAN-EU dialogue. The two sides also
exchanged views on mutual concern of regional and the world situation,
including the South China Sea issue, the Middle East and North Africa,
anti-terrorism ... In exchange for the recent situation in the South China Sea,
two stressed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security and maritime
security, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea; compliance with
international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982
(UNCLOS), the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and the principle of
non-use or threat of use of force; full and strict implementation of DOC and
towards COC. Regarding economic issue, the two sides agreed to resume talks
soon ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement after 2015; increasing connectivity of
aviation, maritime, road; development of small and medium enterprises. The EU
will continue to share experiences and support ASEAN to build community,
especially in the priority areas of ASEAN as narrowing the development gap,
enhancing the capacity of the executive apparatus.
At the
same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung also met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed that the two sides suggested better control
the situation at sea, do not make any action to complicate the situation,
promoting the mechanism of progressed negotiations, seriously emplement the
fundamental principles to direct solving problems on the sea between Vietnam
and China; respecting for international law, jointly maintaining peace and
stability in the region and the world.
Chinese
Premier Li Keqiang said the Party and the Chinese government always persever
motto neighborliness and friendship, mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnam,
always eager to adequately handle the problems arising in relations between the
two countries, and to promote relations between the two Parties and States to
develop stably. Mr. Li Keqiang responded positively to the proposal of Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on specific measures aimed at strengthening relations
between the two Parties and States in coming time.
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All comments [ 10 ]
Relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are finally picking up much-needed momentum.
The progress made in Vietnam now needs to be followed up urgently by efforts to improve the structure of EU-ASEAN cooperation, inject more ambitious content and change the tone and style of the relationship.
Much has changed in Europe and in Southeast Asia since the signature of the EU-ASEAN cooperation agreement in March 1980.
Both the EU and ASEAN have succeeded in bringing peace to their regions. Both have worked for economic prosperity and both have to deal with the challenge of big and difficult neighbours.
The EU-ASEAN relationship today is also very different from what it was all those years ago – reflecting the changes in both organisations.
The challenge facing both sides is to take their relationship into the future – into the 21st Century. This can be done through changes in three key areas: E-ASEAN structures, content and tone.
More needs to be done to further broaden, deepen and strengthen the current level of EU-ASEAN engagement. It is important that the momentum achieved in the last year is not lost.
The EU and ASEAN need to recognise each other as strategic partners. It is quite surprising that this has not been done given the importance of the economic relationship and shared regional integration goals.
This will necessarily mean the organization of regular summits between EU and ASEAN leaders – although these gatherings need not be annual. They could be held back-to-back with the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) which is organised every two years.
ASEAN also needs to enhance its visibility in Europe. Very little is known about the organization, its ambitions and achievements in Europe. Public support for stronger EU-ASEAN ties can only be built up if there is wider media coverage and discussions in universities and in think tanks about the subject.
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