The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) said they would develop their ties into a strategic partnership at their 20th Ministerial Meeting on July 22-23 in Belgium, co-hosted by Vietnam and the EU for the first time.
To realize the vision, both sides would increase political and security dialogues and consultations at regional and global forums in order to further promote their voices, roles and contributions to regional and global peace, stability and development.
On the economic front, ASEAN and EU would lift two-way trade by boosting aviation, navigation and road connectivity. They would also resume negotiations to extend their free trade agreement beyond 2015.
ASEAN suggested the EU urge its member nations to increase investment in and trade with Southeast Asia, while the EU pledged to offer its own experience toward helping Southeast Asia build an integrated ASEAN Community.
The EU would double its development assistance to ASEAN to USD 229 million for 2014-20, much higher than USD 94,200 for 2007-13.
They would focus on effectively realizing the Plan of Action on implementation of the Nuremberg Declaration on an Enhanced ASEAN-EU Partnership during 2013-17.-
