On 5 – 6 July 2017, Thailand will host the ASEAN – EU Senior Officials’ Meeting in Bangkok to maintain continued ASEAN – EU cooperation as this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN – EU Dialogue Relations. The meeting will be co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, ASEAN – Thailand SOM Leader, and Mr. Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director of Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service. Thailand is the current country coordinator for ASEAN – EU Dialogue Relations.

 

Following the 21st ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) held in Bangkok last year, which adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Promoting an ASEAN – EU Global Partnership for Shared Strategic Goals, the meeting will review the progress of ASEAN – EU cooperation laid down in the Bandar Seri Begawan Plan of Action to Strengthen the ASEAN – EU Enhanced Partnership (2013 – 2017) and discuss the successor plan of action for the years 2018-2022. ASEAN and the EU hope to further strengthen the relationship and intensify cooperation in many areas including trade, sustainable development, climate change, people-to-people exchanges, and security. Furthermore, the meeting will also discuss preparations for the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) Session with the EU in Manila in August 2017 as well as commemorative activities on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN – EU Dialogue Relations this year.

 

The meeting will be attended by 40 delegations from ASEAN and the EU Member States, including representatives from the European External Action Service and the ASEAN Secretariat. The meeting represents yet another example of inter-regional cooperation for mutual benefit, underscoring once again the importance of regionalism and the shared interests to promote peace and prosperity not only in the ASEAN and EU regions but also in the community of nations.