VietNamNet Bridge - The 20th ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministerial Meeting takes place today in Brussels. This is the first meeting co-chaired by Vietnam and the EU, during the time Vietnam acts as the coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations (2012 -2015). The Vietnamese delegation is led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

On this occasion, VietNamNet would like to introduce an article about the EU-ASEAN relations by Ambassador - Head of Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam - Mr. Franz Jessen.

Head of Delegation of the European Union in Vietnam - Mr. Franz Jessen.

Vietnam and several of ASEAN Member States have made impressive economic achievements over the last decade. ASEAN is today an important player as regards political stability, including in the East Sea. The EU supports ASEAN in the twin challenge of integrating the region's economies and addressing growing security threats. Today, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh is in Brussels where Foreign Ministers from 28 EU and 10 ASEAN Member States will discuss how the EU – ASEAN partnership can best deliver shared security and sustainable prosperity for their peoples.

A look at the flight schedules from Frankfurt to Singapore, from Brussels to Bangkok, from Paris to Hanoi, is testament to the depth of the EU's partnership with ASEAN. Every year 10 million people travel between our two regions. The vibrant exchange between our societies is the basis of our growing cooperation.  Together we drive trade, tackle organised crime and promote safer seas.

Our societies are growing increasingly interconnected. The EU and ASEAN are the world's two major initiatives for promoting regional integration. We have worked to advance peace and security at home and abroad for almost four decades.

Economic ties between us have traditionally been strong. Trade between our regions has increased every year since 2009. The EU is the biggest foreign investor in ASEAN – close to a third of all foreign investments from abroad come from the EU. With the prospect of economic integration in ASEAN, these numbers are likely to increase even further.

The depth of our economic ties inspired us to reap the benefits of closer ties also in other areas. Two years ago, we decided to take EU-ASEAN cooperation to a new level, making it more political and more ambitious.

More than any other ASEAN partner, the EU is committed to promote peace through regional integration. The European Union sees regional integration as a sensible answer to the challenges of our ever more complex, interdependent world. At the same time, we realise the difficulties in moving ahead with integration. Sharing experiences thus become a central ingredient of our partnership with ASEAN.

To confront challenges that transcend borders, such as climate change or maritime security should be common sense. In a world where we increasingly rely on each other to sustain prosperous and safe societies, it is also a strategic necessity. Today conflict, terrorism or crime in one part of the globe can influence the well-being of societies in another. Our solution is simple - when countries act together they are stronger and more resilient.

In this context, Vietnam is an important partner for the EU and ASEAN's active co-ordinator for relations with the EU. The two sides have developed relations vigorously and comprehensively. The signature of the new-generation Vietnam-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) is a milestone in EU-Vietnam relations. On the trade and economic relations, the EU is Vietnam's largest export market and a leading trade partner.  Our two-way trade is growing by almost 20% year on year.  In 2013 our two way trade reached 27 billion EUR, making the EU into the second largest trading partner of Vietnam. Both sides are engaged in intense negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement and expect to conclude negotiations by the end of this year.

When foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels this week, they will focus on three concrete steps: Our first priority is connectivity- deepening the connection between and within our societies. We want to invest more in transport, education and communication to bring people together to learn, travel and exchange ideas.

Secondly, we also want to work together more closely on maritime cooperation. Safe and secure seas in South East Asia are a prerequisite for a stable and prosperous ASEAN. They are also important to the EU which conducts 90% of its trade by sea.

The EU does not take sides on the question of sovereignty. We believe that all territorial disputes should be settled peacefully in a spirit of cooperation and respect of international law including UNCLOS. The EU also supports the efforts to work on a formal and legally binding Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China and hopes these discussions can be completed as soon as possible.

The EU and ASEAN have a lot of common experiences to share from keeping our ports safe to sustainably managing our resources. For example, on maritime surveillance, illegal fishing or marine conservation, the EU has created a set of regional policies that could inspire ASEAN countries as they grapple with similar challenges. By translating shared experiences into practical cooperation we will make an important contribution to regional security and prosperity.

Our third priority is development cooperation with ASEAN.  The EU has decided to more than double development aid to ASEAN countries to eradicate poverty and sustain the region's dynamic economies. The EU and ASEAN are also investing in the future of our societies by linking up our younger generations. Every year more than 4000 students and scholars from ASEAN come to the EU.  They will be an important backbone to driving innovation and growth for generations to come.

A stronger EU-ASEAN partnership is of strategic significance for both sides. A united and self-confident ASEAN is good for regional stability, security and prosperity. The EU invests heavily in this region because it is also central to global stability and prosperity.

Four decades of cooperation have made the EU and ASEAN 'natural partners'. As Ministers gather in Brussels, they know that together the EU and ASEAN achieved a lot. They also know that our intensified partnership will bear fruit for future generation.

Franz Jessen