The overview of the 24th ASEAN-EU Foreign Minister Meeting in Brussels. (Photo: Kim Giang)

Could you share the highlights of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership in recent times?

The Summit of 14 December 2022 commemorating 45 years of ASEAN-EU dialogue partnership gave a new impetus to the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership. The Joint Leaders’ Statement and the Plan of Action for 2023-2027 endorsed at the Summit provide clear priorities for this Strategic Partnership across the pillars of political and security, economic and socio-cultural cooperation.

The EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam. (Source: NVCC)

What are the significances and main focuses of the 24th EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting?

The 24th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brussels on 2 February 2024 allows Foreign Ministers to follow up on the implementation of the Joint Leaders’ Statement and the Plan of Action endorsed at the Commemorative Summit and to exchange on the future directions of the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership.

How do you evaluate the role of Vietnam in connecting these two important regional organizations – ASEAN and EU?

With its geo-strategic location and dynamic economy, Vietnam is a key partner for the implementation of the EU’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The EU has more agreements with Vietnam than with any other country in ASEAN, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (which has already increased trade significantly for Vietnam) as well as the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) by which Vietnam has agreed to support EU military peacekeeping missions in third countries (there are currently two Vietnamese officers serving at the EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic).

On top of this the EU is co-lead on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Vietnam, which will greatly support Vietnam to reach its climate neutral goals. This partnership insists on the importance for the transition to be just and equitable and requires therefore regular consultation, including with civil society so as to ensure a broad social consensus and build a global energy transition that does not leave anyone behind.

Vietnam is a key member of ASEAN and an important partner for the EU in its relations with the Southeast Asian group, supporting the upgrading of EU-ASEAN relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2020.

Also in 2020, Vietnam under its chairmanship of ASEAN invited the EU to attend for the first time the ADMM+ as guest of the Chair.

In addition, the EU also co-organizes (along with Australia, New Zealand and Canada) an annual ASEAN Regional Forum workshop on maritime security with Vietnam in Hanoi.

What are your asessments of the central role of ASEAN in the region and ASEAN's role in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the region including South China Sea as well as in the world?

The EU recognizes the centrality of ASEAN as the lead regional organisation in South East Asia. The ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference, the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus, the East Asia Summit or the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum provide platforms to ensure peace and security in the region and discuss global peace and security matters. On key regional issues, the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus continues to shape the way forward with respect to Myanmar. The negotiation of a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea remains a cornerstone of the engagement of ASEAN in the matter. ASEAN and the EU equally believe in multilateralism and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Could you comment Vietnam's contributions in ASEAN as well as the potentials for Vietnam - EU cooperation within the ASEAN framework?

Since joining ASEAN in 1995, Vietnam has been making important, proactive and positive contributions as a responsible and active member of the group. Vietnam joining ASEAN also paved the way for bringing the other “mainland” ASEAN countries (Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia) into the fold.

In terms of EU-Vietnam cooperation in the ASEAN context, we look forward to continued support from Vietnam on all aspects of EU-ASEAN relations, including trade and investment, climate action, connectivity, digitalization and people-to- people contacts.