On 5 October 2023, Ambassador Toru MORIKAWA, Executive Director of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), welcomed to ASEF H.E. Sujiro SEAM, the new European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ms Preeti GAONKAR, ASEF Director of Operations, and Mr Sebastian Holz, Policy Officer at the EU Delegation in Singapore, also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, both parties discussed the EU strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region while looking for opportunities to complement efforts and generate synergies between ASEF and EU. The discussion highlighted the importance of fostering people-to-people relations and connectivity between Asia and Europe. The importance of these relationships lies on the opportunities they provide to explore different perspectives of a rapidly changing world, exchange ideas and interact, ultimately contributing to building trust between communities and leading to sustained bi-regional cooperation. In addition to enhancing people-to-people connectivity, promoting sustainable development, green transition and inclusive prosperity are also some of the main areas of interest for both organisations. To address these common global challenges, both institutions committed to building up their partnership and seeking ways to engage the private sector.

Ambassador Seam presented his letter of credence to the ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn on 1st September 2023.  Prior to his appointment, H.E. Sujiro Seam was the Ambassador of the European Union for the Pacific, based in Suva, Fiji, and also served as a French career diplomat.

The overall purpose of the EU Delegation to ASEAN is to contribute to enhancing the strategic partnership that exists between the EU and ASEAN. The EU Delegation is a natural point of contact between the EU and ASEAN officials, as well as others entities in the region interested about EU policies for the ASEAN region and on EU-ASEAN relations and cooperation.

ASEF is an intergovernmental not-for-profit organisation, which brings together the peoples of Asia and Europe to address common global challenges.