On 15 October 2013, Ambassador Apichart CHINWANNO, together with ASEAN Ambassadors in Brussels, attended the Conference on “The EU and ASEAN: Prospects for Future Cooperation” organized by Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Val Duchesse. Mr. Didier Reynders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium opened the Conference which aimed to showcase the multi-dimensional development in ASEAN and the EU, especially the rapid integration processes observed in the two regions, ASEAN’s progress towards becoming an ASEAN Community by 2015, the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity as well as the way forward for future cooperation between ASEAN and the EU. The Conference was a success drawing 80 participants from the public, private, academic, and NGOs/CSOs institutions, as well as members of the European Parliament. The Royal Thai Embassy, recognizing the great merits of this area of activity aimed at promoting both ASEAN as well as individual ASEAN Member States to the general public of Belgium and the EU, supported the Conference by inviting Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Director General of ASEAN Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, to speak on ASEAN post-2015 vision, economic cooperation, and ASEAN Connectivity. Other esteemed speakers at the Conference included, for example, Mr. Pham Quang Vinh, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr. Le Luong Ming, Secretary General of ASEAN, Mr. David O’Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, European External Action Service (EEAS) and Mr. Reinhard Butikofer, Member of the European Parliament etc.
Pictures from ©Jean-Pol Schrauwen, MFA Belgium
