Cambodian PM calls for ASEAN-EU co-operation

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on May 28 called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union to continue strengthening partnership and co-operation in response to the global challenges.

“I strongly believe that ASEAN and the EU can play a more active and more forceful role in the world,” the premier said in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting at Chaktomuk Conference Hall.

“There is no room for a passive role for us, and we-ASEAN and the EU collectively-need to take on the global challenges with head on,” he added.

The 17th meeting, which opened here on May 28, will focus on enhancing ASEAN-EU partnership and co-operation, as well as fixing the world economic and financial crisis and other regional and international issues.

The meeting themed “ASEAN-EU Partnership for Peace, Economic Growth and Development” is scheduled to address issues of ASEAN integration, food and energy security, and the environment.

Hun Sen, in his speech, reviewed and spoke highly of ASEAN-EU co-operation, saying “our close relations at present are becoming ever stronger and covering a wide range of areas”.

The premier also underlined six areas for further enhancing the co-operation and partnership between ASEAN and the EU, such as continuing implementing the ASEAN-EU Action Plan, moving quickly to realize the EU/EC’s accession to the TAC (the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia), supporting each other in the areas of integration and the community building process, and strengthening ASEAN-EU co-operation in the regional and international forum.

This biennial ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting was attended by representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries and the 27 EU member states, as well as the delegates from ASEAN Secretariat and EU Commission.

Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Hor Namhong and Jan Kohout, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs whose country is current EU president, are co-presidents of the meeting.

The 16th Ministerial Meeting between ASEAN and the EU was held in German in 2007.The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.