High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini in Bangkok, #Thailand, to participate in EU-ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference and 26th #ASEAN Regional Forum

On 1 and 2 August, High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini (pictured, right) will be in Bangkok, Thailand to co-chair the European Union – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Post-Ministerial Conference and to represent the EU at the 26^th ASEAN Regional Forum. The meetings follow the 22^nd EU-ASEAN ministerial that took place in Brussels on 21 January 2019, where the EU and Ministers from ASEAN reaffirmed their shared role in shaping the political, socio-economic, and security agenda for both regions and globally. At this meeting, the European Union and ASEAN agreed in principle to upgrade their relations to a Strategic Partnership. Alongside discussions on enhancing connectivity, including through support to the implementation of ASEAN's ownMaster Plan on Connectivity 2025, Ministers are expected to stress the need to strengthen the multilateral rules-based system, and the importance of free and open trade. They will also address a number of pressing global and regional issues. The High Representative will hold a number of bilaterals in the margins of the meetings, including with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Thailand, and the Foreign Ministers of China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Indonesia and New Zealand. The High Representative's visit takes place in the context of recently enhanced EU security cooperation in and with Asiaand the EU's wider strategy to better connect Europe and Asia. For more information about EU-ASEAN relations, please consult the dedicatedfactsheet. Photo and video coverage of the visit will be available on EbS.