KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — The European Union (EU) does not expect Asean to replicate its economic integration model as a platform for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) which is set for launch by year-end.

“Asean will do the Asean way and will find its own way on how to accomplish this important block towards closer cooperation,” EU ambassador and head of delegation to Malaysia Luc Vandebon said.

He said Asean had always been an important trading partner for the EU and more cooperation could be in place as Asean moved towards economic integration.

The EU is Asean’s third largest trading partner after China and Japan, with total trade between the two groupings valued at US$246.2 billion (RM880 billion) in 2013.

Vandebon said this to reporters on the sidelines of the Asean Senior Economic Official Meeting-EU ahead of the 26th Asean Summit on 26-27 April in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.

The closed-door meeting, held to lay the groundwork for the summit, was chaired by International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria.

Also present was European Commission head of unit, trade relations with South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand Helena König.        

Established in 1967, Asean comprises 10 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. — Bernama