Britain Set New Paradigm Shift Into Asia Under Its Look East Policy

SINGAPORE, April 27 (Bernama) -- Britain is taking a major step forward to forge closer ties with countries across Asia, economically and politically. In his remark at the second IISS Fullerton Lecture Series here today the United Kingdom’s First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague said: "My message today is that those who might think that British engagement with Asia is a thing of the past, or that we will become a partner of declining relevance, could not be more wrong." "Today Britain is looking East as never before. We are setting our country firmly on the path to far closer ties with countries across Asia over the next 20 years; and on a completely new footing from the past," he said. He noted Asia’s rise was good for the world, bringing millions out of poverty, providing new opportunities for global trade and investment, and helping to guard against global security threats. "We want Britain to be a leading partner with Asian countries in developing that prosperous future, in trade and commerce, in culture, education and development and in foreign policy and security. Hague said his government will invest the time and effort to develop the political relationship and deep understanding to support this vision over the long term. He said those countries in the region that choose to look to Britain will find a willing, active and serious partner for the 21st century. "We know that we are not alone in this new focus on Asia. At a time when the United States is shifting its focus towards the region and we wish to see the European Union take a more active role, there is a great deal for us to work on with them and many areas where we can align our efforts," he said. In this new global environment, we know that Britain’s national interest requires us to be outward-looking and diplomatically active as never before. "We must connect our country with new opportunities in the fastest-growing parts of the world, looking for new allies in foreign policy as well as new markets for trade and investment. "We must connect our country with new opportunities in the fastest-growing parts of the world, looking for new allies in foreign policy as well as new markets for trade and investment. Hague said Britain has also set ambitious targets to increase and in some cases to double its bilateral trade with China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea within the next five years, as part of a target to double British exports to £1 trillion a year by 2020. "We hope to open up to eight new British diplomatic posts in Asia by 2015, and we are currently discussing this with the governments in question. Separately, by 2015 we will also have deployed around 60 extra staff to China, 30 to India and another 50 across our Asian network in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Mongolia, North and South Korea. "As a further sign of the importance we attach to British diplomacy in Asia, I have announced today that we intend to re-open the British Embassy in Laos that was closed in 1985," he added. -- BERNAMA