EU seeks to boost relations with ASEAN

EU High Representative Catheire Ashtonb is travelling to Brunei Wednesday to attend the EU-ASEAN Ministerial meeting which will take place on Thursday and Friday. The meeting is set to strengthen the 27-member EU's relations with the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), noted a statement by Ashton. This year's meeting coincides with the 35th anniversary of the official relations between the EU and ASEAN. "The EU and ASEAN are natural partners. The EU wants to be an active and constructive player in the new Asian regional architecture," she said. The EU foreign policy chief said she looks forward to discussing with Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries how to boost cooperation, including in areas such as maritime security, crisis management, human rights and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ashton accompanied by the Foreign Ministers of EU Member States, will discuss with their ASEAN counterparts possibilities to enhance political dialogue and cooperation between the two regions. Both sides are expected to endorse an EU-ASEAN Plan of Action for 2013-2017, aiming at enhancing cooperation in the political and security field. In Brunei, Ashton will also meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and launch the negotiation of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Brunei. From Brunei, Ashton will travel to Myanmar where she is expected to convey a strong message of EU support to ongoing change in the country.