Announcement of development cooperation between the European Union and ACSDSD

Announcement of development cooperation between the European Union and ACSDSD

BRUSSELS – The European Union has formally announced a partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) at the second ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Sustainable Development: Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals convened in Brussels on 10 February 2020.

The meeting brought together senior representatives and experts of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and of the European Union (EU), the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Dialogue opened with a high-level segment with statements by Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand as the ASEAN Coordinator on Sustainable Development Cooperation. The subsequent thematic discussions were co-chaired by Mr. Koen Doens, Director-General for the European Commission department for international cooperation and development, and Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.

ACSDSD is a commitment to advancing sustainable development between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, The Royal Thai Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mahidol University.

Mrs. Orawan Yafa, ACSDSD Executive Director, stated the center’s vision and mission in working with all the stakeholders, including the existing ASEAN centres towards achieving the SDGs, and her remarks were well supported by all the participants.

A moment of silence was also observed for the tragedy which claimed 30 lives in Korat, Thailand, before the meeting commenced.
Photo credit: The European Commission

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