Vietnam co-chairs ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting

From July 22-23 in Brussels, Belgium, the 20th ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AEMM-20) took place with the theme "Towards ASEAN-EU strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity".

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (second from right) at the plenary session of the 20th ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Aston co-chaired the Conference.

This is the first ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting co-chaired by Vietnam and the EU during the period when Vietnam coordinated the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations (2012-2015).

Orientation of ASEAN-EU relations

At the conference, the two sides shared information on the development of ASEAN and the EU, reviewed and proposed orientations for the ASEAN-EU partnership, and discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the evolving regional structure in East Asia, the East Sea issue, maritime security and safety, climate change, disaster management, crime prevention, etc.

Regarding ASEAN-EU relations, the two sides highly appreciated the progress and effectiveness achieved over the past 37 years, and agreed to continue promoting the ASEAN-EU relationship to develop positively, comprehensively and in depth. Currently, ASEAN and the EU continue to be important trade partners of each other. In 2013, total ASEAN-EU trade reached 242.6 billion USD, accounting for 9.8% of total trade with ASEAN. The EU is one of the largest FDI investors in ASEAN with capital reaching 23.3 billion USD, accounting for nearly 22% of total investment capital in ASEAN.

Based on the development momentum and results achieved in recent times, the two sides agreed on orientations to promote ASEAN-EU relations.

On politics and security: ASEAN and the EU agreed to continue to strengthen dialogue and consultation on politics and security as well as consultation in regional and international forums, in order to further promote the voice, role and contribution of ASEAN and EU relations to peace, stability and development of the region and the world.

Economically: The two sides strive to increase two-way trade, agree to resume ASEAN-EU FTA negotiations soon after 2015, increase connectivity in aviation, maritime and road transport; and develop small and medium enterprises. The two sides also agreed to hold regular economic consultations at the ASEAN and EU economic ministers level, actively research and implement measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of the Trade and Investment Action Plan 2013-2014. ASEAN also requested the EU to support ASEAN in conducting programs to promote ASEAN's trade and investment potential in EU countries.

In enhancing connectivity and supporting ASEAN in building the Community, the EU is committed to sharing experiences with ASEAN, actively supporting ASEAN in enhancing regional connectivity, especially in terms of institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity. The EU has established a special mechanism to cooperate with ASEAN in regional connectivity, supporting ASEAN's connectivity efforts through the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC).

The EU pledged to more than double its development assistance to ASEAN to 170 million Euros for the 2014-2020 period (compared to 70 million Euros for the 2007-2013 period), focusing on effectively implementing the Action Plan to implement the Nuremberg Declaration on the ASEAN-EU Enhanced Partnership (2013-2017).

Highlighting the ASEAN-EU Statement on the East Sea

Discussing regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides paid special attention and expressed deep concerns about the current complicated developments in the East Sea. Speaking at the High Representative Meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Aston agreed to express deep concerns about the complicated developments in the East Sea, highlighting recent statements by ASEAN and the EU.

The EU emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation; opposed unilateral actions; complied with international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC; supported parties in resolving disputes by peaceful means, including through legal measures. The above-mentioned exchanges between ASEAN and EU Ministers were reflected in the documents of the Conference. In which: expressed deep concern about the increasing tension in the East Sea; supported the recent ASEAN Statements on the East Sea; emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region and promoting security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, and unimpeded trade in the East Sea; exercised restraint, did not threaten or use force, and resolved disputes by peaceful means; comply with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implement the DOC, and soon reach the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC).

Regarding the MH17 incident, the two sides issued a Joint Statement strongly condemning the accident, demanding a full investigation and bringing the criminals to justice.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to develop ASEAN-EU relations towards a strategic partnership and assigned senior officials (SOM) to develop a roadmap and propose recommendations for future orientations to elevate ASEAN-EU relations to a strategic level.

Promoting ASEAN-EU relations towards strategic partnership

As the coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the Conference, proposed priority orientations for developing bilateral relations to a new height in the coming time, encouraged the EU to actively support ASEAN in building the Community and promoting ASEAN's central role in the region, actively contributing to peace, security, stability and development in the region.

At the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh co-chaired the Conference sessions, delivered the opening speech, introduced the orientation of ASEAN-EU relations, spoke on many topics on the agenda and closed the Conference.

In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the strong development of ASEAN-EU cooperation over the past nearly 40 years, affirming that the two sides need to further promote the achieved results and potential to bring the bilateral relationship towards a strategic partnership.

ASEAN welcomes the EU's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and continues to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN to ensure that the principles and provisions of the TAC are effectively implemented, contributing positively to peace, stability and development cooperation in the region, including peace, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

The Deputy Prime Minister appreciated the EU's increased support for ASEAN in building the Community, regional connectivity and linkages; ASEAN and the EU need to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation, including promoting the completion of bilateral FTAs ​​between the EU and ASEAN countries.

Regarding the orientation for the development of ASEAN-EU relations in the coming time, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the requirements of: strengthening cooperation to address current strategic challenges to build trust, ensure peace and stability; strengthening cooperation with ASEAN in ASEAN's future priority areas such as building the Community, promoting socio-economic development and people-to-people exchange; enhancing economic-trade cooperation and continuing to cooperate effectively to address emerging global challenges; promoting the development of a roadmap and contents to bring bilateral relations towards the level of strategic partnership.

Regarding the East Sea, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh strongly affirmed ASEAN's principles, highly appreciated the EU's issuance of the Declaration on the East Sea; expressed deep concern about recent developments that threaten security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, especially China's illegal placement of an oil rig in Vietnam's continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, violating international law; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the DOC; suggested that the EU should work with ASEAN to further promote its role and voice in upholding the principles of peaceful settlement of disputes, exercising restraint, not using force or threatening to use force, strictly complying with international law, the 1982 UNCLOS, as well as fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon reaching a COC.

The Conference highly appreciated Vietnam's coordinating role since 2012, especially its participation in the management and co-chairing of the preparation for the success of the Conference.

According to.Chinhphu.vn