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ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting Concludes "Successfully"
The 13th ASEAN-EU Ministerial meeting concluded "successfully", announced Lao Foreign Minister Somsavat Lengsava in Vientiane Tuesday, December 12.
The meeting was held in a "friendly" atmosphere and would definitely help strengthen cooperation and coordination between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, he said at a joint press conference.
The Vientiane Declaration, adopted at the end of the meeting, said the meeting was held in the "ASEAN-EU spirit of cordiality, mutual understanding and confidence."
The ministers held an intensive and constructive exchange of views on strengthening ASEAN-EU relations, and on wide ranging issues encompassing international and regional political, security and economic issues.
It was the first time that three new members of ASEAN, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, participated in the ministerial meeting between the two groupings.
It was also the first time the two groupings met after Myanmar became a member of ASEAN in 1998.
The EU objected to Myanmar's participation in the meeting, accusing the latter of having human rights problems.
However, Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung said his country "does not have problems with human rights".
All 10 ASEAN foreign ministers attended the two-day meeting, which kicked off Monday morning, while 15 European countries sent their foreign ministers or ministerial officials.
The 14th ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting will be held in Europe, according to the Vientiane Declaration, which did not specify the date or the location of the meeting.
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