Croatian, Slovak, Bulgarian, and Swiss Ambassadors to the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presented credentials to ASEANSecretary-General Le Luong Minh on December 2, affirming theirGovernments’ commitments to closer ties with the bloc.
Duringseparate meetings at the bloc’s headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Minh said the diplomats can play an important role in furtherdeepening cooperation between ASEAN and the European countriesbilaterally and in the framework of the ASEAN-European Union (EU)Dialogue and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
The ASEAN leader andthe ambassadors exchanged views on bilateral, regional andinternational issues of mutual concern, including recent developments inASEAN and the Asian region, the progress of the ASEAN Communitybuilding and integration efforts.
He also expressed his hope thatASEAN and the countries will explore potential areas for practical,effective and mutually beneficiary cooperation.
CroatianAmbassador Dražen Margeta said that his country, as a commercial andservice hub in Europe with deep seaport facilities, can help tobolster trade between the two regions.
Slovak Ambassador MichalSlivovič and Bulgarian Ambassador Sergey Michev spoke highly of ASEAN’scentral role in the region and voiced their wish for furthercollaboration, particularly in investment and trade, between ASEAN andtheir countries as well as between the two blocs.
Meanwhile,Ambassador Yvonne Baumann renewed the Swiss Government’s commitment topursuing closer partnership with ASEAN, including in economy, disasterrisk reduction, and climate change prevention.
She said shewill play an active role in promoting bilateral relations, includingthrough the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which is composed ofNorway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Also onDecember 2, the second ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee(ANZJCC) Meeting convened in Jakarta during which both sides agreedto accelerate the progress of the Plan of Action to implement theASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership for the 2010-2015 period.
Theyalso identified potential areas for the next Plan of Action between2016 and 2020, including counter terrorism and extremism,small-and-medium enterprises development, connectivity, education andvocational training, geothermal and renewable energy, food security,agricultural development, and environment and climate change, amongothers.
New Zealand reaffirmed its pledge to continue supportfor the ASEAN Community building efforts beyond 2015, as well as forthe association’s central role in regional mechanisms.
The meeting also discussed preparations for the forthcoming ASEAN-NewZealand Commemorative Summit to mark the 40th anniversary of theirbilateral relations in Malaysia in 2015.-VNA
Duringseparate meetings at the bloc’s headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, Minh said the diplomats can play an important role in furtherdeepening cooperation between ASEAN and the European countriesbilaterally and in the framework of the ASEAN-European Union (EU)Dialogue and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
The ASEAN leader andthe ambassadors exchanged views on bilateral, regional andinternational issues of mutual concern, including recent developments inASEAN and the Asian region, the progress of the ASEAN Communitybuilding and integration efforts.
He also expressed his hope thatASEAN and the countries will explore potential areas for practical,effective and mutually beneficiary cooperation.
CroatianAmbassador Dražen Margeta said that his country, as a commercial andservice hub in Europe with deep seaport facilities, can help tobolster trade between the two regions.
Slovak Ambassador MichalSlivovič and Bulgarian Ambassador Sergey Michev spoke highly of ASEAN’scentral role in the region and voiced their wish for furthercollaboration, particularly in investment and trade, between ASEAN andtheir countries as well as between the two blocs.
Meanwhile,Ambassador Yvonne Baumann renewed the Swiss Government’s commitment topursuing closer partnership with ASEAN, including in economy, disasterrisk reduction, and climate change prevention.
She said shewill play an active role in promoting bilateral relations, includingthrough the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which is composed ofNorway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Also onDecember 2, the second ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Cooperation Committee(ANZJCC) Meeting convened in Jakarta during which both sides agreedto accelerate the progress of the Plan of Action to implement theASEAN-New Zealand Comprehensive Partnership for the 2010-2015 period.
Theyalso identified potential areas for the next Plan of Action between2016 and 2020, including counter terrorism and extremism,small-and-medium enterprises development, connectivity, education andvocational training, geothermal and renewable energy, food security,agricultural development, and environment and climate change, amongothers.
New Zealand reaffirmed its pledge to continue supportfor the ASEAN Community building efforts beyond 2015, as well as forthe association’s central role in regional mechanisms.
The meeting also discussed preparations for the forthcoming ASEAN-NewZealand Commemorative Summit to mark the 40th anniversary of theirbilateral relations in Malaysia in 2015.-VNA
