On Tuesday (6 September) Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will meet ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan for political consultations in Berlin.

The talks will focus on the progress of regional integration in South-East Asia, the growing role of ASEAN in settling regional conflicts, as well as trade issues. The ASEAN countries are among Germany’s most important trading partners.

In 1967, the nations of South-East Asia joined to form the regional organization ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations). In 2008, Surin Pitsuwan was appointed Secretary-General. He is visiting Berlin in connection with the Asia-Pacific Weeks 2011.