Minister for Asia to attend ASEAN Day celebrations in London

7 Aug 2020 11:23 AM

FCO Minister Nigel Adams will join Ambassadors and High Commissioners from ASEAN member states for a flag raising ceremony and to discuss strengthening the UK’s partnership with Southeast Asia.

Minister for Asia Nigel Adams will visit the Brunei High Commission today (7 August) to join the ASEAN Day celebrations with London-based Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the member states of ASEAN.

This will be followed by a working lunch to continue discussions on UK’s partnership with the region.

Areas of discussion will include deepening future UK-ASEAN cooperation, particularly regarding collaboration on the COVID-19 response and ensuring our recovery from the pandemic is a green one, based around environmental concerns. This follows the UK’s application to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner on 5 June.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, FCO Minister for Asia Nigel Adams MP said:

The long-standing and deep relationship between the UK and ASEAN and its member states has been strengthening over the past decade.

Last year we opened our first dedicated Mission to ASEAN, and I look forward to seeing collaboration increase in areas such as low carbon growth, education, and combatting transnational crime, as well as continued trade and investment growth with UK-ASEAN trade hitting a ten-year high in January of £41.9bn.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven the need for global cooperation and partnerships, and research and development partnerships between UK and ASEAN institutions have already been set up, with our governments working together closely.

I look forward to further meetings with ASEAN partners as we continue to grow our relationship.

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