Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 43
43
Accepted
Paragraph: 135
Vital to pursue multilateral and bilateral links with Southeast Asian countries.
Conclusion
It is vital to pursue links with Southeast Asian countries on both multilateral and bilateral tracks, respecting different value-systems and cultures.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's conclusion on the vital importance of pursuing links with Southeast Asian countries multilaterally and bilaterally, highlighting its established relationship with ASEAN and individual member states.
Paragraph Reference:
135
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees with the Committee on the importance of pursuing links with Southeast Asian countries on both multilateral and bilateral tracks. The UK places great importance on its relationship with ASEAN as a bloc and individual member states. The UK became ASEAN’s first new Dialogue Partner in 25 years in 2021, and we have recently launched a new Plan of Action to drive forward our partnership across a wide range of issues over the coming five years. We work to support ASEAN centrality, and actively participate in a range of ASEAN-led fora including the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The UK also participates in other regional groupings such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). At the same time, the UK has strong and deepening bilateral relationships with many Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam through a wide variety of mechanisms including Strategic Partnerships, Free Trade Agreements, MoUs and regular high-level visits. The UK continues to pursue these relationships based on mutual respect for different value-systems and cultures.