EU official visits Singapore to boost ties

The European Union (EU) is willing to further cooperate with Singapore and other Asian countries, European Commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said on Tuesday.

"Europe has a very big stake in the continued success of Asia and we have benefited considerably from the growth of the Asian economies," said Ferrero-Waldner, adding "In this regard, there must be greater engagement between the EU and Asia."

Ferrero-Waldner, who was on a two-day working visit here, made the remarks when she was addressing Singapore's Foreign Correspondents' Association.

She said that his current visit was aimed at identifying concrete cooperation initiatives to give more flesh and bone to the relations with Singapore and other Asian countries.

She revealed that the European Commission is looking at possible free trade agreements with the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), the Republic of Korean and India, as well as launching new trade negotiations with China.

According to Singapore Prime Minister's Office, Ferrero-Waldner on Tuesday called on Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. They discussed how to deepen bilateral ties and regional cooperation and had an exchange of views on key developments in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Source: Xinhua