It was the ASEAN Economic Ministers who first held talks with the EEC, in Brussels in June 1972, next in 'Bangkok in 1973, and the third time in Jakarta in 1974. The AEM's interlocutor was Sir Christopher Soames, the European Commission's Vice-President and Commissioner for External Relations. The establishment of an ASEAN-EEC Joint Study Group to map out the relationship was agreed upon at the Jakarta meeting.