ASEAN meeting in Vienna: Cultural cooperation in focus!

ASEAN meeting in Vienna: Cultural cooperation in focus!

Wien, Österreich - On July 9, 2025, the 63rd meeting of the Asean Committee took place in Vienna, which brought together representatives of eight Asean countries. Among them were representatives from Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Under the Laotian chair, the cooperation activities of the first half of 2025 were checked and evaluated. Particularly noteworthy was the successful organization of events such as the Asean Culture Day and the Asean sports day. These initiatives not only enjoyed it, but also strengthened cultural cooperation within the region. In addition, a working meeting with the Austrian business world as well as international organizations and the United Nations took place, which illustrates the connections to the domestic economy.

In this context, the Laotian business authority Viengxay Thammavong praised the ongoing support and cooperation. It emphasized the importance of strengthening the Asean Image in Austria and promoting the common voice of the Asean in multilateral forums. Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang from Vietnam also reported significant events, including the second Asean future forum in February and the fourth summit of the partnership for green growth. The celebrations ended with the handover of the chair from Laos to Myanmar and the promise of the new chairman Min Thein to continue existing initiatives.

cultural bridges build

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

trade negotiations under pressure

Current geopolitical tensions, especially through the Ukraine War, caused the EU and Asean to resume negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). A successful conclusion could create an economic block with a GDP of over $ 3 trillion and 660 million consumers. The EU sees an attractive sales market for its products and services in Asean, while the Asean countries want to benefit from developments in Europe. Questions of sustainable trade and cultural standards should also be dealt with here.

A FTA would strengthen the commercial and investment connections of Europe in the Indopazacifik, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainties that burden the relationships between the EU and China. However, there are concerns that fundamental differences in the values ​​between the EU and Asean could make negotiations difficult. While some Asean countries, such as Singapore and Vietnam, have already reached EU standards, others hesitate to join a comprehensive FTA.

Overall, the meeting in Vienna shows that the Asean countries are determined to deepen their cooperation, be it in cultural exchange or in economic areas. In this sense, it remains 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.