EU Pledges To Increase Investments In Asia-Pacific Region

The European Union will increase its investment in the Asia-Pacific region more than ever before, the head of the European Commission said on Friday.

Speaking at the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting by a video link, Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

"We are going to intensify our investments, like never before. We are going to create new links, both physical and digital, between our regions," she said.

The top EU official expressed hope that the EU and the region would be able to work together on issues such as the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

Von der Leyen said both parties have to commit to "an open and stable trading environment" – a crucial criterion for driving an economic recovery after the pandemic.

The bloc, she said, has exported over 550 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and reassured that the EU would continue sharing vaccines with the world. -