Speaking at the meeting, Mr Khiem asked the EU to further help ASEAN members narrow development gaps through the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP), Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and sub-region development programmes.

ASEAN and EU foreign ministers adopted a declaration on Enhanced Partnership which creates a framework for a stable and comprehensive relationship between the EU and ASEAN. Accordingly, the two sides will draw up action plans with concrete measures to realise the declaration.

The ministers reviewed EU-ASEAN relations in recent times and agreed that their cooperative ties have seen significant progress in many areas, especially in politics, security, economics and trade.

EU representatives said they highly appreciated ASEAN’s efforts in building an ASEAN community and developing its central role in the region. 

The EU reiterated its desire to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), which it said reflects the European organisation’s long-term commitments to peace and security in the region.  

The meeting took place at a time when the two sides are celebrating 30 years of the ASEAN - EU Dialogue Relations, 40 years of ASEAN and 50 years of the European Economic Community (EEC) treaty.