Jakarta – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, paid an official visit to the ASEAN Secretariat and met with Secretary-General of ASEAN, Le Luong Minh yesterday.

Secretary-General Minh welcomed Minister Steinmeier and expressed appreciation for Germany’s contribution to ASEAN community building, including in the areas of forestry, climate change, port development, energy efficiency, quality infrastructure, competition policy and law, as well as the capacity building assistance to the ASEAN Secretariat.  Secretary-General Minh also updated Minister Steinmeier on the progress made in the implementation of the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community by 2015.

Germany’s top diplomat spoke of the long-standing ties that Germany has forged with the ASEAN Member States, serving as a foundation for strengthening its relationship with ASEAN. He commended the efforts and achievements made in ASEAN Community building, which according to him had brought tangible benefits to the region and beyond. He reassured Germany’s readiness to further support ASEAN’s regional integration beyond 
Secretary-General Minh and Minister Steinmeier exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues, and ways and means to forge practical cooperation, including in the context ASEAN-EU dialogue relations. 

On the occasion of his visit to the ASEAN Secretariat, Minister Steinmeier delivered a public address on “Creating Order out of Disorder – How Europe and Asia Can Work Together in an Unsettled World.”  The event was attended by the Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, Ambassadors accredited to ASEAN, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of international organisations based in Jakarta, academia, business community and the media.