"This invitation allows the European Union to interact with ASEAN at the leaders' level," the EU's ambassador to ASEAN, Sujiro Seam, told DW.
"The main objective going into the East Asia Summit is to continue to advance the strategic partnership between ASEAN and the European Union," the EU ambassador added.
Some sore subjects, however, were raised on Thursday, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr accusing Beijing of harassment and intimidation in the South China Sea.
Laos, a communist-run state, has put in effort to avoid controversy during its tenure as ASEAN's chair, focusing on regional unity rather than geopolitical disputes.
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