Deputy Foreign Minister Kolaja at the 21st EU - ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok
14.10.2016 / 15:39 | Aktualizováno: 18.05.2017 / 09:31
Deputy Foreign Minister Václav Kolaja attended the 21st EU – ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held October 13-14, 2016 in Bangkok. The meeting concluded with a pledge for closer ties and enhanced partnership between the EU and ASEAN, as reflected in the Bangkok Declaration.
Deputy Minister Kolaja in his speech reiterated the Czech Republic's long-held support for removing all barriers to cooperation and its commitment to trade liberalization. He also highlighted the Czech Republic's support for the ambitious goal of concluding a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and ASEAN in the future.
ASEAN groups 10 Southeast Asian countries and is a key partner of the EU in Asia. The grouping boasts great economic potential and is an important partner for the EU from a geopolitical and security standpoint.