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On 27–28 April 2026 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Parliamentary Secretary Artjoms Uršuļskis participated in the 25th EU–Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Meeting. During the meeting, views were exchanged on opportunities for developing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, as well as on regional and international issues. The meeting was chaired by Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei and EU–ASEAN relations coordinator.
Artjoms Uršuļskis emphasised:
“Latvia supports enhanced dialogue between the EU and ASEAN. ASEAN is one of the fastest-growing and most competitive regions in the world. The region is a strategically important partner, including in strengthening multilateralism, promoting resilience, and diversifying trade. The security of both regions is interlinked, and its cornerstone is a rules-based international order.”
The Parliamentary Secretary highlighted the potential for economic cooperation between the regional blocs, particularly in the areas of digital development, connectivity, climate change, energy, and transport. Strengthened cooperation plays a crucial role in ensuring the sustainable and resilient functioning of international supply chains. The EU and ASEAN are mutually important trading partners. The EU is ASEAN’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest source of foreign direct investment, while ASEAN is the EU’s third-largest trading partner outside Europe.
In a meeting with Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, the Parliamentary Secretary reaffirmed Latvia’s readiness to development cooperation with the dynamic and promising ASEAN region. Latvia also actively strengthened bilateral cooperation with ASEAN member states by meeting with the foreign ministers of Brunei, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines.
A joint statement by the EU and ASEAN foreign ministers was adopted during the meeting.
The previous EU–ASEAN Ministerial Meeting took place on 2 February 2024 in Brussels, Belgium.
2027 will mark the 50th anniversary of EU–ASEAN relations. In 2020, relations between the two regional blocs were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership.