The 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20) themed “Towards Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity” was held on July 22-23 in Brussels and co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. It is the first time Vietnam and the EU co-chaired the meeting while Vietnam is working as coordinator of the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations (2012-2015).

 

On July 23, 2014 the 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium and co-chaired by the EU and
Vietnam which is working as coordinator of the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations. Photo: Huong Giang-VNA
 

On the basis of achievements obtained over the years, the two sides agreed on orientations to promote ASEAN-EU relations in many aspects. In politics-security, ASEAN and the EU agreed to continue increasing security and political dialogues and consultation at international forums in order to promote their voice, role and contribution to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

In the economic field, the EU and ASEAN aim to boost two-way trade by strengthening aviation, navigation and road connectivity, resuming Free Trade Agreement negotiations after 2015, supporting small-and-medium sized businesses, and holding economic consultations between their economic ministers. ASEAN suggested that the EU support carrying out programmes on promoting ASEAN trade and investment potential in the EU. The EU promised to help ASEAN improve regional connectivity and increase its development assistance to ASEAN at a cost of 170 million euro for 2014-2020 up from 70 million euro for the 2007-2013 period.

 

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with the EU High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the sideline of the meeting. Photo: Huong Giang-VNA


Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the sidelines of the meeting. Photo: Photo: Huong Giang-VNA


 

On related issues of mutual concern, the two sides voiced their grave concern over the East Sea situation. Addressing the meeting, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, also expressed her deep concern over the complicated happenings in the East Sea and highly appreciated the recent declarations of ASEAN and the EU. The EU emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, security and navigation freedom; respecting international law, the 1982 UNCLOS and the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the East Sea (DOC), and protest unilateral actions and support the concerned parties to settle conflicts by peaceful means, including through legal dispute settlement mechanisms.”

The EU and ASEAN issued two joint statements highlighting the main achievements of their meeting, as well as a statement in which the ministers condemn the attack on Flight MH17 on 17 July.

ASEAN and the EU agreed to develop their ties toward a strategic partnership and assigned SOM the task of building the road map and giving recommendations to promote the ASEAN-EU to a strategic one.

The successfully-closed 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20) has confirmed the active and responsible role of Vietnam as a coordinator of the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations when it co-chaired the event for the first time.