ASEAN-UK: A young, dynamic and potential partnership

Conference Overview.

In Da Nang, on April 10, Vietnam held the 4th ASEAN-UK Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) and the ASEAN-UK Connectivity Dialogue.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, and Mr. Owen Jenkins, Director General of the Indo-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa Department, Head of ASEAN SOM UK, co-chaired the activities.

Right before the activities, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet and Mr. Owen Jenkins also met the two Vietnam-UK co-chairs.

At the ASEAN-UK SOM, the countries assessed that although it was only established 4 years ago, the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership has made impressive developments, and the UK has proven to be one of ASEAN's leading dynamic Partners with a series of projects, programs, and cooperation plans that have brought about many positive results.

A typical example is the ASEAN-UK Action Plan 2022-2026, with 171/181 action lines implemented (about 95%). New initiatives, typically the Green Transition Programme, with a total budget of 40 million pounds (51 million USD) to support ASEAN in reducing emissions, promoting green economic growth and supporting vulnerable groups, are also being strongly promoted.

The UK has also implemented a number of projects with a budget of £25-30 million with ASEAN, including the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme, Support for Girls’ Education (SAGE) and the Health Security Partnership… These are very positive indicators towards the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership (2021-2026).

Delegates attending the event.

The countries emphasized that the two sides share a strategic vision in connecting the two regions, expanding cooperation, promoting trade, and linking interests; accordingly, in the immediate future, priority will be given to effectively implementing the Joint Statement on Connectivity and completing the current Action Plan, creating a premise for building a new Action Plan for the 2027-2031 period; at the same time, identifying the focuses and priorities for cooperation in the next medium-term period.

Specifically, it is necessary to promote trade and investment cooperation, market access, supply chain stabilization, business development, especially micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), educational and health cooperation, etc., as well as expand to new areas of cooperation, especially innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, etc.; agree to strengthen cooperation and respond to emerging non-traditional security challenges such as online fraud, online gambling, money laundering, etc.

ASEAN countries asked the UK to continue promoting maritime cooperation, supporting ASEAN in implementing its commitments on climate change response, energy transition, green and sustainable development, narrowing the development gap and sub-regional development.

In discussions on international and regional issues of mutual concern, the countries shared many assessments on the impacts and consequences of recent developments on the global trade system; committed to working together to promote a transparent, trustworthy, predictable and rule-based multilateral trade system.

Mr. Owen Jenkins, Head of ASEAN-UK SOM, spoke at the event.

In his speech, Mr. Owen Jenkins affirmed the UK's priority and strong commitment to ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region; emphasized support for ASEAN's central role, readiness to support ASEAN in implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the Strategies on politics-security, economics, culture-society and connectivity; proposed that the two sides expand the fields, mechanisms, levels and objects of cooperation, so that the UK can participate more deeply in regional cooperation, with the mindset of a "consistent" and "reliable" Partner of ASEAN.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, spoke at the event.

As coordinator of the dialogue relationship, on behalf of ASEAN countries, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet spoke highly of the role of the UK, a member of the G7 and G20, in regional cooperation; proposed key areas for bilateral cooperation in the coming period, including promoting trade, investment, digital transformation, renewable energy, connectivity, energy connectivity, etc.; affirmed that he would closely coordinate with the UK in building documents guiding bilateral cooperation in the next period.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet also asked the UK to support initiatives proposed by Vietnam in its role as Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration Task Force (IAI-TF) to implement the IAI Work Plan for the 2021-2025 period and the new Work Plan for the 2026-2030 period.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet and Mr. Owen Jenkins met the two Vietnam-UK Co-Chairs.

On the same afternoon, Vietnam and the UK co-chaired the ASEAN-UK Connectivity Dialogue, with two focuses on Financial Services and Creative Economy. This is an important step in implementing the Joint Statement on Connectivity, adopted at the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in July 2024.

Speaking at the Dialogue, Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized that connectivity is of particular importance in realizing the goal of building a prosperous and sustainable future for the region.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet said that strengthening cooperation in financial services, especially green finance, is the key to promoting trade, investment and sustainable development; meanwhile, the creative economy is the driving force for innovation, inclusive economic growth, job creation, and increased understanding and cultural exchange between ASEAN and UK people.

For his part, Mr. Owen Jenkins emphasized that the financial services sector is the backbone of the economy, contributing to promoting trade, investment and innovation. As the world's leading financial center, the UK is committed to promoting regional financial connectivity through green financial initiatives for sustainable goals.

Mr. Owen Jenkins also expressed his belief that the creative economy is a new driving force in economic growth, job creation, tourism promotion and cultural exchange (through films, music, fashion, design, etc.).

The speakers at the conference had in-depth discussions on the potential and measures to promote specific cooperation in the fields of finance and creative economy, including developing green financial markets, enhancing regional financial integration and attracting high-quality investment, supporting human resource development, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, promoting trade in creative products and services, etc.

The ASEAN-UK Connectivity Dialogue is the final activity in a series of ASEAN events hosted by Vietnam from April 8-10 in Da Nang.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/asean-anh-quan-he-doi-tac-tre-nang-dong-va-nhieu-tiem-nang-310670.html