ASEAN meeting in Vienna: Cultural cooperation in focus!

ASEAN meeting in Vienna: Cultural cooperation in focus!

On July 9, 2025, the 63rd meeting of the ASEAN Committee was held in Vienna, bringing together representatives from eight ASEAN countries. These included representatives from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Under the Lao presidency, the cooperation activities of the first half of 2025 were reviewed and evaluated. Particularly noteworthy was the successful organization of events such as the ASEAN Culture Day and the ASEAN Sports Day. These initiatives have not only brought joy but also strengthened cultural cooperation within the region. A working meeting also took place with the Austrian business world as well as international organizations and the United Nations, which illustrates the connections to the domestic economy.

In this context, Lao Charge d'Affaires Viengxay Thammavong praised the ongoing support and cooperation. She emphasized the importance of strengthening ASEAN's image in Austria as well as promoting ASEAN's common voice in multilateral forums. Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang of Vietnam also reported on significant events, including the second ASEAN Future Forum in February and the fourth Green Growth Partnership Summit. The celebrations concluded with the handover of the chairmanship from Laos to Myanmar and new chairman Min Thein's promise to continue existing initiatives.

Building cultural bridges

A crucial aspect of ASEAN-EU relations is cultural exchange. A study examines how this can promote mutual understanding at the multilateral level and address global challenges. According to the research, it is emphasized that culture can serve as a bridge between Southeast Asian and European societies. This not only promotes cooperation, but can also be seen as support for other forms of collaboration. Political decision-makers in ASEAN and the EU are therefore called upon to develop sustainable cultural cooperation that goes beyond pure exchange.

Trade negotiations under pressure

Current geopolitical tensions, particularly caused by the Ukraine war, have prompted the EU and ASEAN to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). A successful deal could create an economic bloc with a GDP of over $3 trillion and 660 million consumers. The EU sees ASEAN as an attractive sales market for its products and services, while the ASEAN states want to benefit from developments in Europe. Questions of sustainable trade and cultural standards should also be addressed.

An FTA would strengthen Europe's trade and investment ties in the Indo-Pacific, especially at a time of geopolitical uncertainty straining EU-China relations. However, there are concerns that fundamental differences in values ​​between the EU and ASEAN could complicate negotiations. While some ASEAN countries, such as Singapore and Vietnam, have already reached EU standards, others are reluctant to join a comprehensive FTA.

Overall, the meeting in Vienna shows that the ASEAN states are determined to deepen their cooperation, be it in cultural exchanges or in economic areas. In this sense, it is to be hoped that the common voice and commitment will continue to be heard in the future in order to meet the challenges of the globalized world.