06/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European External Relations Commissioner, will be in Asia next week. On 9 October, she will be in Malaysia to meet the minister for foreign affairs, Datuk Seri'Syed Hamid Albar, and the president of the group of eminent ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) personalities, Tun Musa Hitam. On 10 October, Ms Ferrero-Waldner is due to visit Singapore to meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Discussions will above all cover the strengthening of economic relations between the EU and these two countries, as well as the partnership and cooperation agreements that the EU hopes to propose to Malaysia and that it is already negotiating with Singapore. (ab)