EU foreign policy chief to enhance EU-ASEAN relation

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia later this week, eyeing to strengthen relationship between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Commission said on Tuesday.

"Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice-President of the European Commission, will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5-6 August as part of the EU's drive to step up its engagement with ASEAN," it said in a statement.

Mogherini will attend the ASEAN Regional Forum's (ARF) annual ministerial meeting and hold various other bilateral meetings.

"Asia matters to Europe and vice versa. We have a huge stake in each other's success. I am much looking forward to discuss with ASEAN and other colleagues how we can build a stronger, modern partnership and address security challenges together," said the high representative ahead of her visit.

"As EU we have a distinct role to play: as partner in integration with ASEAN and as a strong advocate of cooperative security and international law," she added.

The EU foreign policy chief will highlight the EU's enduring commitment to cooperate in and with Asian partners on pressing security challenges and step up its cooperation with ASEAN, the statement said.

The ARF is the leading ASEAN-centred forum in the Asia Pacific for dialogue and cooperation on security issues of which the EU is a member.