21st ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting: Tackling common challenges together
The meeting took place in the context of the increasingly close partnership between the European Union and ASEAN, two leading examples of regional integration in the world. Foreign Ministers discussed cooperation on a wide range of issues – economic, political, and security-related – and identified ways and means to strengthen EU-ASEAN relations for the future.
In their joint declaration the two sides reaffirmed "to foster rules-based approaches to promote security and prosperity for their citizens and to address global challenges effectively…and in promoting global peace, progress and prosperity."
The two sides also pledged to accelerate efforts in working towards a strategic partnership between ASEAN and the EU and signalled their readiness to strengthen ASEAN-EU relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
In the declaration the EU and ASEAN also resolved "to enhance political and security dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN and the EU with a view to strengthening regional capabilities in traditional and non-traditional security areas", welcoming "strengthened dialogue and cooperation on maritime security, counter-terrorism, cyber security, preventive diplomacy and mediation and crisis management between ASEAN and the EU".
The meeting was jointly chaired by Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák and Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.
The 22nd ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting will take place in the European Union in 2018.
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