Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets with President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy (C) and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso in Milan, Italy, Oct 15, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Milan - The European Union (EU) leadership here on Thursday reiterated the importance it attached to promoting EU ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying the EU welcomes a more ambitious, more political and more substantial partnership with ASEAN.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy made the remarks at the EU-ASEAN leaders meeting ahead of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit.

Van Rompuy said the two sides agreed with the objective of establishing a Strategic Partnership and the work is ongoing towards this goal.

"The EU will soon nominate its first Ambassador accredited exclusively to ASEAN. We would like to engage even more," he said.

The EU is ready to enhance cooperation with the ASEAN and is aware of the key role that ASEAN plays in the region and beyond, said Van Rompuy.

EU-ASEAN relations have deepened and broadened significantly over the past two years, as many high level visits have taken place, said Van Rompuy.

"We are moving to new areas of concrete cooperation: improving aviation connectivity, crisis response and disaster management, preventing transnational crime and improving maritime cooperation, " he added.

Although the two sides' foreign ministers have met regularly, This is the first EU-ASEAN meeting at leaders' level since 2007.

Federica Mogherini, the incoming top EU diplomat, was also present at the meeting.