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.

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British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

The U.K. has become ASEAN’s 11th dialogue partners, along with China, Japan, the U.S., Russia, India, the European Union (E.U.), and others.

“Today the U.K. is proud to be accepted as first new ASEAN Dialogue Partner in 25 years. [The U.K.] looks forward to expanding trade, deepening security cooperation & being an even stronger force for good in the Indo-Pacific,” Raab tweeted.

The ASEAN on August 5 granted the U.K. the formal status of Dialogue Partner at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, which is the current Chair of ASEAN.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs appreciated the U.K.’s commitments and potential for cooperation across all aspects of politics-security, economy, and society-culture.

ASEAN expects that with its new status, the U.K. will use its role and strength to promote substantial development of the ASEAN-U.K. ties in contribution to peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region, he said.

Source: VNA