European Union - ASEAN partnerships
The ASEAN - EU University Network Programme (AUNP) builds on
the long-standing, high-level political dialogue between the
European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), and on a series of initiatives already undertaken
by the European Commission to increase mutual understanding between
the two regions.
Relations between the EU and ASEAN are based on a cooperation
agreement between the EU and the following ASEAN member countries:
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The European Commission's priorities for the development of economic
cooperation with Asia, and its aim to establish an overall strategic
framework for EU-Asian relations over the coming decade, are outlined in
the communication 'Europe and Asia: a strategic framework for enhanced
partnerships' (adopted in September 2001). This communication identifies
ASEAN as a strategic economic and political partner of the EU and
emphasises its importance as a protagonist in the field of
relations between Europe and Asia. A key requirement is the need
to enhance reciprocal understanding and to strengthen the mutual
awareness of European and Asian cultural perspectives through
enhanced cooperation in the higher education sector.
The AUNP was initiated through the signing of a financing agreement
on 20 January 2000 by the European Community and the ASEAN University
Network (AUN) (1). The objective of the programme is to enhance
cooperation between higher education institutions in the two regions,
to promote regional integration within ASEAN countries, and to
strengthen the mutual awareness of European and Asian
cultural perspectives.
The AUN was established in 1995, with the signing of its charter by
the ministers responsible for higher education from ASEAN countries.
The AUN seeks to strengthen the existing network of cooperation among
higher education institutions in ASEAN by promoting collaborative studies
and research programmes on the priority areas identified by ASEAN.
The AUN aims to promote cooperation and solidarity among scientists
and scholars in the ASEAN member countries; to develop academic and
professional human resources in the region; to promote scientific and
scholarly knowledge and information dissemination; and to enhance
the awareness of regional identity amongst its members.
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