Speaking at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the EU here on Thursday, he said ASEAN-EU cooperation, which was established in 1977, has led to many forms of collaboration in politics, economics, society, and culture.
The relationship has grown into a people-to-people understanding between the two. Hence, Manolo said it is about time to upgrade the ASEAN-EU partnership into a strategic partnership.
Until now, ASEAN has worked with the EU on many issues, interests, and urgencies, including tackling climate change and transnational crimes, strengthening food security, and finding energy alternatives.
The two have also cooperated in maritime peace and security according to applicable laws, he said, adding that the action plan to implement the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership will always develop in the upcoming years.
ASEAN has welcomed the EU's cooperation strategies in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the bloc's support and recognition of ASEAN centrality that forms the basis of the Indo-Pacific outlook.
It has also welcomed the EU's investment package of 10 billion euros (around US$11.1 billion) for the catalytic green finance facility.
Manolo further said that the region is waiting for the implementation of the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA), the world's first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement, which was signed in October 2022.
Furthermore, ASEAN has also praised the EU, which helped the region in fighting COVID-19 transmission during the pandemic and mitigating the pandemic's impact.
With the many achievements between ASEAN and EU, the partnership between the two has enhanced significantly after more than 46 years, Manolo said.
The Philippine foreign secretary expressed the hope that the ASEAN-EU partnership would be strengthened further.
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Translator: Katriana, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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