European Council President Charles Michel (L), Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
BRUSSELS, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) has pledged to mobilize 10 billion euros (10.6 billion U.S. dollars) by 2027 to accelerate infrastructure investments in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
At the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit held here on Wednesday, the EU and its member states offered the financial support that will focus on the green transition and sustainable connectivity in South-East Asia, underpinned by the Sustainable Connectivity Initiative and the Green Team Europe Initiative.
The investments will focus on energy, transport, digitalization, education and the promotion of trade and sustainable value chains, the European Commission said in a statement. The funds will support South-East Asia's transition to a green economy, better access to essential services, and economic opportunities and jobs.
In a joint statement following the meeting, the leaders praised the signing of the EU-ASEAN Comprehensive Air Transport agreement, the first-ever region-to-region aviation agreement.
ASEAN leaders pledged to continue robust economic cooperation with the EU, ASEAN's third-largest trading partner and second-largest investor. They committed to promoting sustainable and inclusive trade and investment.
While "we are each other's third-largest trading partner (...) it accounts for only 5 percent our trade. There is so much untapped potential," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
During the summit, the leaders also discussed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and reiterated their positions on the matter, including their objection to the threat of the use of nuclear weapons and to the suffering caused by the conflict to several regions around the globe, according to the statement. ■
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin speaks to media as she arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban prepares to attend the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo arrives for the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
European Council President Charles Michel (L), ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi (C), and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pose for a photo at the welcome ceremony of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)
