UK promotes engagement with AsPac

MANILA, Philippines - The United Kingdom has reiterated its heightened focus on Asia, and encouraged the rest of Europe to be more engaged in the region through championing free trade agreements, sharing expertise in specialist areas and being active on foreign policy issues in Asia.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague promoted further EU engagement with Asia-Pacific during his visit to Singapore last week. The British Foreign Secretary delivered a keynote speech on ‘Britain in Asia’ in Singapore during the IISS Fullerton Lecture series.

“We believe that it is time for the EU to be more vigorously and coherently engaged with countries of the Asia-Pacific within the limits of its competences; working to break down market barriers within Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world, championing free trade agreements, and working closely together in specialist areas such as disaster preparedness,” Hague said. “This also involves being active on foreign policy issues in Asia, for example offering EU expertise to support regional integration in South East Asia, and taking a robust position on North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation.”

“And in the European Union, we are the leading advocate of lower trade barriers, the completion of the single market and of enlargement. We were at the forefront of efforts to secure preferential trading arrangements for Pakistan after its devastating 2010 floods, and are passionately in favour of ambitious Free Trade Agreements with the Asia Pacific region.” he added.

Hague said Britain wants to be a leading partner with Asian countries in developing that prosperous future, in trade and commerce, in culture, education and development, and in foreign policy and security.

The British government will invest the time and effort to develop the political relationships and deep understanding to support this vision over the long term.

“Those countries in the region that choose to look to Britain will find a willing, active and serious partner for the 21st century,” he said.

The British Foreign Secretary delivered a keynote speech on ‘Britain in Asia’ in Singapore last week during the IISS Fullerton Lecture series.

Commenting on the speech, Trevor Lewis, Chargé d’ Affaires at the British embassy, said “this is a clear statement of the UK’s renewed engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and of the importance of working closely with key regional partners including the Philippines”.

Hague also bared plans to expand its diplomatic network in Asia.

“We hope to open up to eight new British diplomatic posts in Asia by 2015, and we are currently discussing this with the governments in question,” Hague said. “As a further sign of the importance we attach to British diplomacy in Asia, I have announced today that we intend to re-open the British Embassy in Laos that was closed in 1985. Not only will we have an Ambassador and Embassy there for the first time in 27 years and be able to build a stronger bilateral relationship, but we will also then be represented in each and every ASEAN member state.”

The UK, he said, is deliberately doing this ahead of the culmination of plans to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base that is highly competitive and fully integrated into the global community by 2015, to benefit of the 600 million people who live in ASEAN countries.

Hague added that by 2015 the UK will have deployed 60 extra staff to China, 30 to India and another 50 across the Asian network, including the Philippines. These extra posts and diplomats are the physical proof of Britain’s desire for broad and deep partnerships with Asian countries for the 21st century.