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Norway seeks closer relations with ASEAN

Xinhua, August 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said Wednesday his country is seeking to enhance its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the Nordic country is forging partnership with the bloc.

At a meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday, ASEAN foreign ministers agreed to accept Norway as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner following its application early this year to establish a formal partnership with the Asian bloc.

"I welcome this partnership, which will give us access to important political arenas and enhance the opportunities for Norwegian companies in Southeast Asian markets," a press release of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry quoted Brende as saying.

In 2014, the ASEAN countries, taken together, were Norway's fourth largest trading partner and home to the highest concentration of Norwegian companies operating abroad, according to the press release.

"ASEAN is playing an increasingly important role regionally and globally, both in political and economic terms. Together, the ASEAN countries have the world's fourth largest economy and the association aims to launch a common internal market by the end of 2015," said Brende, who is currently in Malaysia as a guest at the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM).

"Norway's partnership with ASEAN is therefore good news for Norwegian companies," he added.

In a bilateral meeting Wednesday on the sidelines of the 48th AMM, ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh told Brende that Norway already has substantial relations with ASEAN member states and he believed this partnership will further benefit and strengthen ASEAN and Norway relations, according to the ASEAN Secretariat.

Brende assured that Norway will work tirelessly to forge a stronger partnership with ASEAN and will collaborate closely with the bloc to implement cooperation projects and development activities that will benefit the region. Endit