Wednesday, 14 December 2022, Brussels, European Union: The EU’s capital served as host for the very first summit held between the leaders of EU and ASEAN member states, thus marking 45 years of diplomatic relations. The summit’s co-chairmanship fell upon the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the 2022 ASEAN Chair, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen.
The EU and the ASEAN became strategic partners in 2020.
Two major side-line events were held in connection with the diplomatic jubilee, namely the 10th EU-ASEAN business summit as well as EU-ASEAN youth summit.
ASEAN is the EU’s third largest trading partner outside Europe, after the USA and China.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand itself. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar in 1997, and Cambodia in 1999. The ten member states of ASEAN have an estimated total population of about 668 million. The secretariat of the association is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Both the EU and ASEAN are the most integrated regional organizations worldwide.
For further information
European Council: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2022/12/14/
