Jakarta, 2 December 2011
H.E. Mr. Christian Wilhelm Walter Wulff, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and H.E. Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, met today in Jakarta. This first meeting between the ASEAN Secretary-General and President Wulff took place during the President’s state visit to Indonesia to strengthen diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Germany, which will turn 60 years old in 2012.
The Secretary-General and the President exchanged views on ways to strengthen Germany’s relations with each of the ASEAN countries and with ASEAN as a regional entity.
President Wulff commended ASEAN for its achievements and reaffirmed Germany’s support to ASEAN in its effort to build the ASEAN Community. He informed Dr Surin that Germany takes a special interest in working closely with ASEAN, and takes great effort to ensure that the EU is represented at the highest level at ASEAN meetings.
The President encouraged ASEAN to play a more active role in global affairs. He observed that ASEAN is a role model for other regions, as many ASEAN Member States with large Muslim populations coexist with other nations in peace. “ASEAN is a stabilising factor. In a world where there are many disruptions, ASEAN is moving in the right direction”, he said. He welcomed the developing role of the civil society in ASEAN.
The Secretary-General and President Wulff also discussed the relevance of civilisational dialogues between regions, and the developments in North Africa and the Middle East. Dr Surin informed the President that ASEAN is keen to project itself as a coalition of moderate countries who are tolerant of many faiths. The two sides acknowledged that it is important for ASEAN, the EU and Germany to maintain their dialogue and work together to create peace and mutual understanding in the global community.
Both parties acknowledged the potential for further economic and trade relations between ASEAN and Germany.
The President also commended the Secretary-General and the ASEAN Secretariat for their work in advancing regional integration, and reaffirmed Germany’s long term commitment to assist the ASEAN Secretariat to realise its mandate.
Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan thanked President Wulff for the meeting, and for the Republic of Germany’s generous support of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat. “As the central mechanism in ASEAN, the Secretariat has to be strong”, said Dr Surin. He also thanked Germany for its high-level interaction with ASEAN and for the support rendered by its political foundations.
