Foreign Ministers of the EU and ASEAN agreed on closer cooperation

Today, Foreign Minister Jürgen Ligi participated in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok that focused on closer cooperation between the organisations.

An overview of developments in the regions was given and ministers discussed the future of the EU-ASEAN partnership and security issues. Ministers made a declaration in which they agreed on more diverse and closer cooperation and moving towards strategic partnership.

In his address, Foreign Minister Ligi reaffirmed Estonia’s support for free trade agreements between the EU and ASEAN countries and added that the growth of welfare in the 21st century is based on digital cohesion. “Digital market is the future of economic cooperation. Open, free and safe Internet helps the economy develop and creates new opportunities for entrepreneurship. Digital cohesion between the EU and ASEAN would undoubtedly be improved by legal framework and harmonisation of standards,” Ligi noted.

In addition, Foreign Minister Ligi met today in Bangkok with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore and Laos and Deputy Foreign Ministers of Brunei, Cambodia and Myanmar to discuss cooperation, including cooperation in international organisations. Foreign Minister Ligi also signed a condolence book for King Bhumibol Adulyadej, opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and offered his condolences to the Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.

ASEAN was established in 1967 to promote intergovernmental relations and economic cooperation in South-East Asia. The organisation has 10 members: founding members Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and later joined Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The previous ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting took place in 2014 in Brussels.

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72157674012588780 



Additional information:

Maria Belovas
Communication Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(+372) 516 0043
[email protected]