UK, ASEAN Looking Forward To Closer Cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) – The United Kingdom (UK) and ASEAN is looking forward to even closer cooperation on trade, climate and regional security issues. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said this after his meeting with current Chair of ASEAN and Brunei’s Foreign Minister II Datuk Seri Setia Awang Erywan Mohd Yusof at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ meeting held in London on May 5 (Wednesday). Raab also thanked ASEAN Leaders for accepting the UK’s application for Dialogue Partner status. “I look forward to strengthening our commitment to the ASEAN region even further in the coming years," Raab said. A statement highlighting the outcome of the meeting was made available to Bernama by the Press and Communications division of the British High Commission in Malaysia on Friday. Raab said that during the meeting, both of them also discussed the ongoing situation in Myanmar. “I underlined the UK’s steadfast opposition to the military coup and the important role ASEAN can play based on the principles of its Charter," he added. According to the statement, the meeting between the two foreign ministers was the first since ASEAN Leaders agreed to accept UK’s application for Dialogue Partner status at their meeting in Jakarta on April 24. "The UK’s invitation to the ASEAN Chair to attend the G7 meeting signals the UK’s emphasis on a closer alignment with the Indo-Pacific region, as outlined in the UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published in March. "This was the first time a representative from ASEAN has been invited to attend a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting," the statement said, adding that UK’s application for Dialogue Partner status recognises the UK's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. Other key topics covered during the talks included how best to increase G7 and ASEAN ambition on climate targets ahead of the COP26 summit in Glasgow later this year. The ministers also agreed to build deeper UK-ASEAN trade links and security cooperation, while working together to address challenges such as climate change and COVID-19 recovery. -- BERNAMA