In his speech at the opening session of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, President of the Council António Costa emphasised the EU’s commitment to a strategic partnership with ASEAN, praising ASEAN’s role in peace efforts and welcoming Timor-Leste as its 11th member. He highlighted the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement with Indonesia and ongoing negotiations with other ASEAN states. Costa underscored shared values: multilateralism, maritime security, regional integration, digital and green transition. He called for comprehensive cooperation ahead of the 50th anniversary of EU-ASEAN ties, pledging the EU’s reliability as a partner.
Source: European Council
