ASEAN, Norway to enhance partnership

JAKARTA, 6 MAY 2019 – ASEAN and Norway reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen their partnership at the 4^thMeeting of the ASEAN-Norway Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee held at the ASEAN Secretariat today.

The meeting noted with satisfaction the progress made in ASEAN-Norway cooperation following the inception of the partnership four years ago. Both sides discussed the completed, ongoing, and planned projects in implementing the Priority Plan for ASEAN-Norway Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.

ASEAN appreciated Norway’s support for activities of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation and ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, as well as the development of the ASEAN Judiciaries Portal, marine environment, and blue economy, climate change and energy.

Both sides explored opportunities to further enhance cooperation in existing areas of collaboration as well as to tap huge potentials for cooperation in a number of areas such as trade and investment; private sector development, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; connectivity; narrowing of the development gap in ASEAN; biodiversity; youth; education sustainable development; digital economy; and e-commerce. Norway also briefed the meeting on the matters concerning World Trade Organization reform and modernisation to promote and strengthen the multilateral trading system.

The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community Department, Aladdin D. Rillo and Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, Morten Høglund and was attended by the members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Marianne Hagen was also in attendance.

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