SG Minh acknowledged the important role Italy is playing to promote ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations. He recalled the agreement reached between ASEAN and the EU to intensify efforts towards further deepening the relations, including the possibility of establishing an ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership. He further cited the decision made by ASEAN and EU in March 2015 to resume region-to-region Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations after the launch of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year.