Hanoi (VNA) – The British Government announced on June 5 that thecountry had applied to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN as it sought to boostpost-Brexit ties in the region.
"As Asia grows in importance, global Britain willcooperate even more closely with our friends in the region," British ForeignMinister Dominic Raab said in a statement.
"By becoming one of ASEAN's dialogue partners, we can strengthenour ability to cooperate across the Indo-Pacific region, as a force for good,on everything from climate change to regional stability,” he added.
ASEAN has 10 existing dialogue partners including theEuropean Union, Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States.
Britain said it hopes partnership status with the 10-memberASEAN, which seeks to accelerate economic growth, social progress andcollaboration in the region, will lead to new opportunities across trade,education, science and security.
ASEAN gathers Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam./.
VNA