By ZEKE MILLER AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White...

Global News Through a Greek Lens
Global News Through a Greek Lens
From the heart of Southeast Asia, I send warm greetings to the people of Greece, whose timeless wisdom has illuminated the course of human progress. Greece’s enduring civilizational legacy – rooted in the ideals of democracy, philosophical inquiry, and artistic brilliance – finds resonance in Southeast Asia’s own vibrant traditions and aspirations.
The historical ties between Greece and Southeast Asia trace back to the maritime trade routes of the Hellenistic era and the diplomatic exchanges of the Byzantine period, reflecting early connections across distant seas. Today, these ancient links have evolved into a dynamic partnership, strengthened through bilateral cooperation, collaboration between regions in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union, and our active engagement in multiple multilateral and global platforms.
Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has served as the anchor of peace, the catalyst for regional prosperity, and the champion of multilateral cooperation in Southeast Asia and beyond. Rooted in its founding principles of peace, development and progress, ASEAN has transformed itself into a dynamic and influential regional grouping, fostering cooperation not only among its 10 members but also with friends and partners across the globe to address critical issues such as climate change, economic growth, transnational crime, sustainable development, and digital transformation.
Looking ahead, ASEAN is shaping the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, a strategic framework that aims to build a resilient, innovative, and people-centered community beyond 2025. This vision is designed to ensure that ASEAN remains a central and influential force in fostering a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. In this pursuit, ASEAN continues to actively strengthen cooperation with its external partners to address emerging global challenges and seize new opportunities.
Our growing relationship with Greece mirrors ASEAN’s broader global partnerships and aligns with Greece’s increased engagement with Southeast Asia, both bilaterally and through the European Union. Over the past five decades, the ASEAN-EU partnership has exemplified the power of multilateral cooperation, spanning diverse areas from economic collaboration to addressing global challenges. Recent milestones, such as the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement between ASEAN and the EU, herald the vast potential for our shared future growth.
As a distinguished member of the EU, Greece holds an important position in this dynamic partnership. We see tremendous potential for deeper collaboration across a range of areas, including trade and investment, tourism, maritime connectivity, climate change mitigation, renewable energy, sustainable technology development, and cultural-educational exchanges.
The establishment of the Hellenic-ASEAN Business Council in July represents a significant milestone in our relations. The council will serve as a bridge for Greek and ASEAN businesses to explore new markets, forge strategic partnerships, and drive mutual economic growth.
Like Odysseus navigating the complex waters between mythical islands, our journey of cooperation requires vision, adaptability, and the courage to explore uncharted territories. Just as the legendary Greek hero transformed challenges into opportunities during his epic voyage, ASEAN and Greece stand poised to navigate the intricate currents of global politics to foster our multifaceted and mutually beneficial collaboration.
The ASEAN Committee in Athens has been instrumental in this process, diligently building connections between our regions. Their dedicated efforts demonstrate that meaningful collaboration is the best pathway for mutual understanding and shared progress.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations in 2027, we extend an invitation to Greece to join us in reimagining and co-creating our future. Our regions may be geographically distant, but we are united by profound shared values of multilateralism, innovation, and human progress. Together, we will continue to bridge the vast expanse between Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean, and construct a more interconnected, prosperous global community.
H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn is the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dynamis Media Group llc, NeaProini.gr or NeaProini.us. Any content provided by our authors and/or contributors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.