By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- The European Union (EU) looks forward to more regular engagement at the leaders’ level with ASEAN and is working on the matter with Malaysia, the bloc’s chair for this year, said European External Action Service Asia and Pacific Managing Director Niclas Kvarnström.
Speaking to Bernama during his recent two-day visit to Malaysia starting March 10, he said the EU has high expectations for ASEAN under the Malaysia’s Chairmanship.
“For the EU, the relationship with ASEAN is central to our entire strategy in the Asia Pacific region.”
The Joint Leaders’ Statement endorsed at the 45th Anniversary EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit recognises the common strategic interest of holding regular leaders level engagement between ASEAN and the EU.
“The visit to Brussels of PM (Datuk Seri) Anwar (Ibrahim), who is the chairman of ASEAN was very much appreciated,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia’s office here recently.
According to Kvarnström for 2025, the EU intends to contribute to the priorities of the Malaysian Chairmanship of ASEAN which focus on inclusivity and sustainability.
He said three EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meetings are foreseen in 2025 : the usual Post Ministerial Conference and ASEAN Regional Forum with Foreign Ministers in July, as well as the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Consultation with the European Trade Commissioner in September.
This year, the EU also proposed elevating its high-level dialogue on environment and climate with ASEAN to a Ministerial Meeting, which is expected to take place in September, he added.
He said in 2025, the EU is determined to deliver new projects for ASEAN on digital cooperation, trade, biodiversity, and to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the green transition through a new centre of excellence in Malaysia.
Kvarnström said the ASEAN Power-Grid, carbon pricing, the circular economy are other priorities for the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership in 2025.
Regarding the EU’s relationship with Malaysia, he said the bloc’s commitment to deepening and broadening its partnership with both Malaysia and ASEAN.
“Malaysia is an important partner of ours in Asia, in every form from trade to politics…,” he added.
Under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, Malaysia will host over 300 ASEAN-related meetings, programmes, and summits throughout the year.
Malaysia previously chaired ASEAN in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.
-- BERNAMA
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