Brunei Princess Hears Trade Worries As She Attends Asean-EU Meeting

Asean and EU Foreign Ministers

Brussels - Southeast Asian nations are worried about Europe's increasing preference to put their money in China.

On the other hand the EU Commissioner for External Relations said there was a trade imbalance last year of 23 billion Euro in Asean's favour. He called for Asean to do more to encourage European investment.

These were matters looming over the current 14th Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting as growing dissatisfaction on the lack of economic relationship between the two regions came under review.

Brunei Ambassador-at-Large Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna has attended the second session of the 14th Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting in at the Council of the European Union Building in Brussels.

Earlier, the Princess also met the French Secretary of State at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Mr Renaud Muselier to discuss bilateral relations between Brunei and France.

The meeting focused on the current international issues including terrorism, the situation in the Middle East, developments in the Asia-Pacific region and international economic developments.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting reaffirmed the importance of Asean-EU relations and outlined some new areas of Asean-EU future cooperation such as the promotion of bilateral trade and investment, cooperation to combat terrorism, people to people contacts and cultural cooperation.

Brudirect.com