European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Sujiro Seam said that a meeting of foreign ministers from EU and ASEAN member states will be held in early February in Brussels.
“The foreign ministers’ meeting (will be held) in Brussels on February 2. So, one week from now,” Sujiro said at a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.
Sujiro said that the meeting would be an opportunity for ASEAN and EU foreign ministers to discuss various matters, including following up on agreed commitments to improve relations between the two organizations in the future.
“The purpose of this meeting is to deliver a joint leadership statement and follow up on the relationship,” he said.
In more detail, Sujiro explained that the meeting will discuss the progress that has been made in the implementation of the Joint Leaders’ Questions and the action plan for 2023-2027.
In addition, the meeting will also discuss the perspective of future relations between the European Union and ASEAN.
The meeting, he said, will be attended by foreign ministers of ASEAN countries, the ASEAN Secretary General and 27 foreign ministers of EU member states, as well as a number of EU leaders.
Sujiro predicted that the meeting would result in plans for bilateral meetings between ASEAN and EU countries that would further strengthen relations between the countries.
Meanwhile, the European Union is also committed to continue working with ASEAN and increase their role and presence in ASEAN countries.
Through this cooperation, the EU hopes to become a stabilizing force and become a force that helps find solutions to crises that occur in this world, including in resolving the issue of Myanmar, the South China Sea, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, the war in Ukraine and in the Middle East.