European Union (EU) ministers will meet their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday to endorse a Vision Statement on future relations.

At the meeting in Nuremberg, Germany, the EU will express its commitment to support Southeast Asia in developing its own forms of regional integration, said the European Commission, the executive body of the EU.

This biennial EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting will be attended by representatives from all EU member states as well as the 10 ASEAN countries.

"EU relations with ASEAN are becoming increasingly dynamic: tomorrow's meeting, and in particular the adoption of the Vision Statement shows that our relationship is ready to shift up a gear, " said EU external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner on Tuesday.

"Europe has led the way in exploring the possibilities and advantages of regional integration. We applaud the initiatives that ASEAN is taking to bring the benefits of deeper regional cooperation to Southeast Asia. We will continue to do all we can to support ASEAN in this to help bring greater stability and prosperity to the region."

The Vision Statement calls for closer political relations at bilateral and multilateral level and lists the areas for joint action, especially in security, energy, environmental and development matters, said the commission.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2007)