LONDON – British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday said that the United Kingdom (UK) has been awarded the status of a dialogue partner by Asean, the first time a new country has been awarded the status in the past 25 years, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
He said it is a part of London’s strategy to shift its policy towards the Indo-Pacific region after Brexit, and the new position enables the country to attend high-level Asean meetings and opens up opportunities for practical cooperation with countries in the region.
This makes the UK Asean’s 11th dialogue partner, alongside China, Japan, the United States, Russia, India, the European Union (EU), and others.
“Today, the UK is proud to be accepted as the first new Asean Dialogue Partner in 25 years. (The UK) looks forward to expanding trade, deepening security cooperation & being an even stronger force for good in the Indo-Pacific,” Raab tweeted.
Asean yesterday granted the UK the formal status at a ceremony held by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Brunei, which is the current Asean chair.
Speaking at the ceremony, Brunei’s Foreign Affairs Minister Erywan Yusof said they appreciated the UK’s commitments and potential for cooperation across all aspects of politics, security, the economy and society-culture.
Asean expects that, with its new status, the UK will use its role and strength to promote substantial development of the Asean-UK ties in contribution to peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region, he said. – Bernama, August 6, 2021
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