PHNOM PENH, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN and the EU on Thursday stressed the need to further strengthen and deepen their dialogue and cooperation on battling the global financial crisis, anti-terrorism, disease prevention and other regional and international issues.
The 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), opened here on Thursday, focused on ASEAN-EU's enhanced partnership and cooperation. The meeting under the theme of "ASEAN-EU Partnership for Peace, Economic Growth and Development" also addressed issues of ASEAN integration, food and energy security and the environment.
"The meeting was held in the traditional spirit of openness, trust and solidarity that is the corollary of more than 30 years of dialogue and cooperation," according to the joint statement of the meeting.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen opened the meeting and made a keynote address. He reviewed and spoke highly of the ASEAN-EU cooperation, saying "our close relations at present are becoming ever stronger and covering a wide range of areas."
The two blocs also signed two declarations on Thursday afternoon for enable the EU to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. "These documents represent another significant step forward in ASEAN-EU relations," Hun Sen said, and asked to continue accelerating the process of the EU's accession to the TAC as early as possible.
Moreover, Hor Namhong, Cambodia's foreign minister and the co-presidents of the meeting, also commended the signing of the two documents, saying that "this accession will certainly contribute to peace, security and stability in the region."
The ministers had in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues. During their discussion on the current global economic and financial crisis, the ministers stressed the need to make concerted efforts to overcome the global economic crisis, calling for the rapid implementation of the measures agreed upon, including strengthening financial market's oversight and regulation. They also agreed to seek ways to give new impetus to the ASEAN-EU FTA (Free Trade Area) negotiations which will further strengthen and promote trade and investment ties between the two regions.
They also endorsed the Phnom Penh Agenda for the implementation of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (2009-2010), and tasked their senior officials of both sides to exert all efforts to implement the agenda in order to deepen and intensify cooperation in every field between them.
In addressing the emergence of the latest A/H1N1 virus, the two blocs' ministers said they will cooperate to fight against the new virus, as well as the diseases such as HIV/AID, Avian influenza and other future emerging infection disease.
Anti-terrorism, and non-traditional security issues were also on the agenda of the meeting, such as human smuggling and drug trafficking, money laundering, international economic and cyber crimes which constitute serious transnational crimes. They said that they will follow up with the "ASEAN-EU Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat Terrorism," and promoting inter-regional and multilateral counter-terrorism efforts.
At the same time, they agreed to seek new impetus to the ASEAN-EU FTA (Free Trade of Area) negotiations, to enhance cooperation on food and energy security, as well as the cooperation on disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The ministers also exchanged views of the recent situation in Myanmar, according to Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong at the press conference. The ministers called for the early release of those under detention, and encouraged the Myanmar government to conduct closer cooperation with the United Nations.
As for the recent nuclear test by Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the two blocs condemned the recent underground nuclear test and missile launches undertaken by the DPRK and urged the DPRK to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks, as well as comply with the UN Security Council's resolutions.
This biennial ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting were attended by representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries and the 27 EU member states, as well as the delegates from ASEAN Secretariat and EU Commission.
The ministers decided to meet again for the 18th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Spain in 2010.
The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), opened here on Thursday, focused on ASEAN-EU's enhanced partnership and cooperation. The meeting under the theme of "ASEAN-EU Partnership for Peace, Economic Growth and Development" also addressed issues of ASEAN integration, food and energy security and the environment.
"The meeting was held in the traditional spirit of openness, trust and solidarity that is the corollary of more than 30 years of dialogue and cooperation," according to the joint statement of the meeting.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen opened the meeting and made a keynote address. He reviewed and spoke highly of the ASEAN-EU cooperation, saying "our close relations at present are becoming ever stronger and covering a wide range of areas."
The two blocs also signed two declarations on Thursday afternoon for enable the EU to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. "These documents represent another significant step forward in ASEAN-EU relations," Hun Sen said, and asked to continue accelerating the process of the EU's accession to the TAC as early as possible.
Moreover, Hor Namhong, Cambodia's foreign minister and the co-presidents of the meeting, also commended the signing of the two documents, saying that "this accession will certainly contribute to peace, security and stability in the region."
The ministers had in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues. During their discussion on the current global economic and financial crisis, the ministers stressed the need to make concerted efforts to overcome the global economic crisis, calling for the rapid implementation of the measures agreed upon, including strengthening financial market's oversight and regulation. They also agreed to seek ways to give new impetus to the ASEAN-EU FTA (Free Trade Area) negotiations which will further strengthen and promote trade and investment ties between the two regions.
They also endorsed the Phnom Penh Agenda for the implementation of the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action (2009-2010), and tasked their senior officials of both sides to exert all efforts to implement the agenda in order to deepen and intensify cooperation in every field between them.
In addressing the emergence of the latest A/H1N1 virus, the two blocs' ministers said they will cooperate to fight against the new virus, as well as the diseases such as HIV/AID, Avian influenza and other future emerging infection disease.
Anti-terrorism, and non-traditional security issues were also on the agenda of the meeting, such as human smuggling and drug trafficking, money laundering, international economic and cyber crimes which constitute serious transnational crimes. They said that they will follow up with the "ASEAN-EU Joint Declaration on Cooperation to Combat Terrorism," and promoting inter-regional and multilateral counter-terrorism efforts.
At the same time, they agreed to seek new impetus to the ASEAN-EU FTA (Free Trade of Area) negotiations, to enhance cooperation on food and energy security, as well as the cooperation on disaster preparedness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The ministers also exchanged views of the recent situation in Myanmar, according to Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong at the press conference. The ministers called for the early release of those under detention, and encouraged the Myanmar government to conduct closer cooperation with the United Nations.
As for the recent nuclear test by Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the two blocs condemned the recent underground nuclear test and missile launches undertaken by the DPRK and urged the DPRK to return immediately to the Six-Party Talks, as well as comply with the UN Security Council's resolutions.
This biennial ASEAN-EU ministerial meeting were attended by representatives from all the 10 ASEAN countries and the 27 EU member states, as well as the delegates from ASEAN Secretariat and EU Commission.
The ministers decided to meet again for the 18th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Spain in 2010.
The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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