Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister underscored that cooperation for sustainability has played an important role in strengthening the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership and that ASEAN and the EU should work together to simultaneously pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and COVID-19 recovery at the 3nd ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development.

On 18 November 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-chaired the High-Level Segment of the 3rd ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development with H.E. Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships via videoconference. This Dialogue was hosted by Thailand. At the opening, H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary General of ASEAN, also delivered remarks on ASEAN-EU cooperation on sustainable development, and the European Union (EU) took this opportunity to launch the Green Team Europe Initiative for ASEAN to further advance cooperation with ASEAN on the green agenda.

The Dialogue was attended by representatives from ASEAN and EU Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, the European Commission, as well as relevant UN agencies, international organisations, the private sector and civil society, including youth organisations.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister underscored that cooperation for sustainability has played an important role in strengthening the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership and that ASEAN and the EU should work together to simultaneously pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and COVID-19 recovery as these issues are complementary. He further suggested the following areas for ASEAN-EU cooperation: (1) the need for a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable living and striking a “Balance of All Things” for a sustainable future for all; (2) promoting greater employment of innovation and digitalisation to help achieve development objectives; (3) fostering a multi-stakeholder partnership, including on green finance and on strengthening relevant existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue; and (4) promoting cooperation on the green agenda and establishing a “green alliance” between ASEAN and the EU as a potential concrete deliverable of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the 45th ASEAN-EU relations in 2022 in Brussels.

This Dialogue also comprised the thematic discussions at the senior official level, which were co-chaired by Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and Ms. Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for International Partnership, the European Commission. At the discussions, participants exchanged views and experiences on three major topics, namely (1) green recovery, climate action, environment and Bio-Circular-Green Economy; (2) research, innovation, sustainable growth and digitalisation; and (3) gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and inclusive human development. The EU will host the 4th ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development in 2023 in Brussels.

The opening remarks by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister can be viewed here.  https://fb.watch/9m2DuoGjwX/