The UK has agreed a new partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The partnership, which is the first ASEAN has agreed in 25 years, will lead to closer cooperation between the UK and the region on a range of issues such as trade, investment, climate change, the environment, science and technology, and education.  UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will join a virtual ceremony with ASEAN Foreign Ministers where they will welcome the UK as an ASEAN ‘Dialogue Partner’.  Also read: Bangladesh keen to expand ties with Asean countries: FS Since the UK submitted its application to become a Dialogue Partner in June 2020, the Foreign Secretary has attended two UK-ASEAN Ministerial Meetings and hosted the ASEAN Chair at the G7 Foreign & Development Ministers meeting in May.  ASEAN is an influential group of ten member countries in the Indo-Pacific.  By becoming a Dialogue Partner the UK will formalise its relations with the group - including through attending annual Foreign and Economic Ministers meetings along with other Ministerial engagements. Dialogue Partner status puts the UK at the heart of the Indo-Pacific.  The UK will work with ASEAN and its members on key shared challenges such as maritime security and transnational crime, boost our economies through trade, and strengthen our cooperation on issues such COVID-19 and climate change. Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab said: “I am delighted that the UK has, today, formally become a Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc – the first new country in 25 years.” “This is a landmark moment in the UK’s tilt towards the Indo Pacific. Our closer ties with ASEAN will help create green jobs, reinforce our security cooperation, promote tech and science partnerships, and safeguard key pillars of international law like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.” The new agreement will also help the UK to deepen economic links with ASEAN, which has a combined GDP of $3.2 trillion.  Total trade between the UK and ASEAN was £32.3 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2021 with huge potential to boost this trade, creating jobs at home. International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said this is great news and shows Global Britain in action, forging stronger relationships around the world as an independent trading nation. Also read: Greater efforts sought from envoys to enhance trade with Asean "Along with CPTPP accession and deals with countries like Singapore and Vietnam, this will help unlock opportunities for British businesses in a high-growth region of more than 650 million people, allowing them to expand and create jobs across the UK.

Bangladesh is keen to expand its ties with Asean countries encompassing areas like trade, investment, physical connectivity, defence cooperation and track-2 diplomacy, said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday. He sought support from the Asean countries to Bangladesh’s application for becoming a sectoral dialogue partner. The Foreign Secretary held a virtual discussion with the Heads of Missions from different Asean countries in Dhaka through the Bangladeshi App Boithok and discussed various issues of cooperation. Also read: HR promoting countries have a double-standard approach: FM This was for the first time that the foreign diplomats successfully used the virtual meeting app developed by the ICT Ministry of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh wants to enhance economic relations with the Asean countries with increased trade and has sought stronger efforts from its envoys in Asean countries.  The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) is a 10-member international body that represents more than 500 million people living in the region. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday exchanged views with the Bangladesh envoys and urged them to step up their efforts for protecting the national interests of Bangladesh with particular emphasis on enhancing trade and economic relationship with the Asean countries.  Also read: ASEAN envoys meet Myanmar junta leader to press for dialogue He called upon the envoys to make innovative and out-of-the-box efforts to maintain the momentum of the economic growth of Bangladesh in context of the raging pandemic and other regional and global challenges.  The virtual meeting was held on the locally developed Bangladeshi virtual video conferencing platform ‘Boithok’ with Bangladesh Ambassadors/High Commissioners in Asean countries on contemporary issues. Eight Ambassadors/High Commissioners along with other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the virtual meeting chaired by the Foreign Secretary.  Also read: Bangladesh keen for establishing road, rail links with China, ASEAN countries Set up in 1967 in Bangkok by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, Asean has since been joined by Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.