ForMin Melescanu says EU and ASEAN share same fundamental values, deal with similar challenges

Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu tackled in Brussels the prospects of establishing a strategic partnership between the European Union and South-East Asia, highlighting the fact that the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) share the same fundamental values and they are confronted with similar challenges, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs.

According to a MAE release, Teodor Melescanu headed Romania's delegation to the 22th ministerial meeting between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (EU-ASEAN), which was held in Brussels on Monday and which focused on the relationship between the EU and the ASEAN as the main topic of debate, as well as on advancing collaboration in view of completing a bi-regional strategic partnership

During his speech, the head of the Romanian diplomacy tackled the prospects of establishing a strategic partnership between the EU and the ASEAN, which will reflect the relevance of the two organisations in the regional and global architecture. Under the slogan of the Romanian Presidency at the EU Council, namely "Cohesion, a common European value," the Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister underscored its valences for the relations between the EU and the ASEAN.

"The EU and the ASEAN share the same fundamental values and they are confronted with similar challenges. A common approach of the global topics is needed, such as climate change, cyber security and combating extremism. All these based on supporting some common objectives: promoting multilateralism, regional integration, open and fair trade, a rule-based international order and a peaceful settlement of disputes," Melescanu said.

The Minister pointed out the security challenges of the European vicinity and the shared concern regarding cyber security, calling for a solidarity EU-ASEAN approach. Furthermore, he also mentioned the bi-regional cooperation opportunities in the connectivity area, including in terms of the interhuman dimension of connectivity, within which education holds a key role.

The conclusions of the ministerial meeting aimed the strengthening of the EU-ASEAN relationships in 2019. The EU Council reiterated the support granted to the regional integration of the ASEAN and underscored the importance of promoting some tighter relations regarding trade and investments with the ASEAN, bringing to mind also its commitment to strengthen cooperation in the security area, the MAE mentions.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the head of the Romanian diplomacy carried out a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah. On this occasion, Teodor Melescanu reiterated Romania's interest in developing the political dialogue and the bilateral economic cooperation. He underscored the priority which Romania gives to aspects regarding the commutation of the final convictions of the two Romanian citizens who were sentenced to death in Malaysia and the granting of a fair treatment for the third detainee, who is still on trial. Also, Minister Teodor Melescanu commended the excellent collaboration between the two states within the international organizations, the press release showed. AGERPRES (RO - editor: Antonia Nita; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)