Brussels / Bangkok, 28/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The post-ministerial conference that brought together on Friday in Bangkok representatives of the Asean countries and of the European Union offered an opportunity for reactivating relations that had been "on hold" for three years after Burma joined Asean. The accession protocols for Laos and Cambodia to the EU/Asean Cooperation Agreement of 1980 were signed on the fringe of this meeting. These protocols will enable the two countries to participate in regional cooperation programmes, recalled the European Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten.
During the meeting, Commissioner Patten warmly congratulated Thailand's Foreign Minister for his role in helping come up with a settlement in the conflict between the EU and Asean over Burma's participation in bilateral meetings.
The Commissioner voiced the hope that "we can now begin examining ways of developing dialogue, especially in areas like economic reform, good governance and solidarity". As the Asian countries begin to leave the crisis period behind them, "the time has come to give more attention to economic relations between the two regions". "I personally hope economic dialogue will reach an intensity and range similar to those reached in our relations with trading partners like the United States, Japan or China", declared the Commissioner, adding that he planned "to follow this issue closely".
In spite of the economic recovery, the social and environmental impact of the crisis does not seem to have been remedied yet, noted the Commissioner. "We wish to work with you to ensure that the benefits of globalisation will be shared by all and will not simply heighten inequalities", observed Chris Patten. He went on to note that bilateral cooperation in social and environmental projects could be set into place quite quickly.