Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đặng Hoàng Giang, Head of ASEAN SOM Việt Nam, and Christina Scott, Director General for International Network and Head of UK SOM, co-chaired the fifth ASEAN–UK Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) was held on March 30–31 at Wilton Park in the UK. VNA/VNS Photo

LONDON — The United Kingdom and ASEAN have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening practical cooperation and advancing their partnership toward a new stage of development, officials said at a recent senior officials’ meeting.

The fifth ASEAN–UK Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) was held on March 30–31 at Wilton Park in the UK. The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đặng Hoàng Giang, Head of ASEAN SOM Việt Nam, and Christina Scott, Director General for International Network and Head of UK SOM. Việt Nam currently serves as the coordinator for ASEAN–UK relations for the 2024–2027 term.

In her opening remarks, Scott reaffirmed that the UK is a long-term partner strongly committed to ASEAN, supporting the bloc’s central role and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. She also highlighted ASEAN’s capacity to convene dialogue and cooperation in the region.

Participants noted that the global landscape is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable, with economic policies being politicised and weaponised, growing non-traditional security challenges, and rising risks of overlapping crises. Against this backdrop, both sides agreed that deeper cooperation between ASEAN, now the world’s fifth-largest economy, and the UK, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a G7 member, offers important opportunities for collaboration.

Marking the fifth anniversary of ASEAN–UK Dialogue Partnership relations (2021–2026), the meeting adopted a concept document outlining commemorative activities to be held throughout 2026.

The two sides highlighted the strong implementation of the ASEAN–UK Plan of Action for 2022–2026, which has achieved a completion rate of 98.9 per cent. They are also working on a new action plan for 2027–2031, designed to be more focused, strategic and effective in responding to emerging challenges and opportunities.

Both sides agreed to continue implementing key initiatives, including the ASEAN–UK Economic Integration Programme worth 25 million GBP (US$33 million) and the Supporting ASEAN Girls’ Education (SAGE) programme valued at 30 million GBP ($39.6 million). Cooperation will also extend to scholarships for women in STEM fields, the Chevening ASEAN scholarship programme, and the ASEAN–UK Green Transition Fund to promote sustainable development and climate action.

The UK also pledged to expand cooperation in areas such as green finance, fintech, maritime security, transnational crime prevention, creative economy, digital and green transformation, renewable energy, climate change response, and human resources development.

At the meeting, Deputy FM Giang emphasised that ASEAN and Việt Nam attach great importance to their partnership with the UK and its contributions to the region. He called for stronger strategic dialogue, high-level exchanges and closer coordination on regional and global issues, particularly in 2027 when the UK will chair the G20, Việt Nam will host APEC, and Singapore will assume the ASEAN chairmanship.

On the economic front, Giang emphasised that since establishing relations, bilateral trade turnover has steadily grew, with the UK now being ASEAN’s eighth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest investor.

He welcomed the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), saying it will provide additional momentum for trade and investment ties between ASEAN and the UK. He affirmed that in its role as CPTPP Chair in 2026, Việt Nam will coordinate with countries to promote the CPTPP, including organising the second ASEAN-CPTPP Trade and Investment Dialogue in 2026.

He proposed leveraging the roles of the UKABC and ASEAN-BAC to support the private sector and establishing a bilateral business dialogue mechanism. He expressed his hope that the UK would continue supporting ASEAN countries in developing and connecting international financial centres, advancing the ASEAN–UK multilateral air transport agreement, and increasing up assistance to help narrow development gaps, while making Mekong subregional cooperation a priority in its regional policy.

On the sidelines of the SOM meeting, Giang also held a bilateral meeting in London on April 1 with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Prosperity, and Development Seema Malhotra to discuss bilateral relations, especially the implementation of outcomes from General Secretary Tô Lâm’s official visit to the UK in October last year.

Giang affirmed support for the UK's increasing role in the Asia-Pacific region, especially within the ASEAN-UK cooperation framework.

He highly valued the positive developments in bilateral relations following General Secretary Lam's visit and the elevation of two countries' ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

In terms of economy and trade, the Deputy FM noted that the UK is currently Việt Nam's third-largest trading partner in Europe, while Việt Nam is the UK's second-largest partner in Asia. Based on the UK-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and the CPTPP, bilateral trade turnover in 2025 reached $9.4 billion – the highest ever.

On the UK side, Under-Secretary Malhotra appreciated Việt Nam's role in coordinating ASEAN-UK relations, welcomed the success of the ASEAN-UK SOM Conference, and affirmed that Việt Nam is an important partner in the UK's strategy for ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific region. She recognised Việt Nam as a dynamic economy with great potential and affirmed a commitment to support Việt Nam in developing financial centers, promoting cooperation in green finance, environmental protection, and climate change response.

Both sides agreed to continue enhancing coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the UN and ASEAN, while discussing regional and international issues, including ensuring maritime and energy security.

Regarding future cooperation directions, both sides emphasised promoting delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones, and developing an Action Plan to effectively implement the Việt Nam–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and agreements signed during General Secretary Lâm's visit.

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as developing international financial centre in HCM City and Đà Nẵng, green finance, science and technology, and energy. They acknowledged the positive role of the Vietnamese community in the UK in the local socio-economic life, serving as an important bridge contributing to promoting bilateral relations.

On the same day, Deputy FM Giang met with Chair of the Communist Party of Britain Lorraine Douglas, during which the Vietnamese official appreciated the solidarity and support of the Communist Party of Britain for Việt Nam in various stages of struggle and national development. He informed about the achievements after more than 40 years of Đổi mới (Renewal) and the orientation for rapid and sustainable development in the coming time.

Giang suggested that the two parties enhance theoretical exchanges, coordinate at multilateral forums, and promote propaganda to raise awareness about Việt Nam's situation.

For her part, Douglas commended Việt Nam's comprehensive development achievements in a world full of fluctuations and affirmed the importance of friendship and cooperation with the Communist Party of Việt Nam.

The two sides also agreed to enhance information exchange, share experiences, and coordinate at forums of the international communist and workers' movement, thereby contributing to promoting peace, social progress, and protecting workers' rights. They also discussed recent complex developments in the world situation, agreed to continue promoting cooperation in the future, and affirmed support for the communist movement in Cuba, contributing to strengthening Việt Nam-UK relations and enhancing solidarity among progressive forces worldwide.

At the end of the meeting, the Communist Party of Brtian presented the Communist Party of Việt Nam with a collection of documents and posters opposing the war in Việt Nam – historical artifacts that testify to the solidarity and support of the UK communist movement for Việt Nam.

Also on this occasion, the Vietnamese Deputy FM attended the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Channel 1.5 with sessions on Geoeconomics and the Future of Multilateralism, Maritime Cooperation, AI Governance, and Dialogue with ASEAN Chevening Scholarship students.

He also had a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, during he acknowledged and hailed the efforts of the staff and Party members in recent times, especially in maintaining internal unity, enhancing political bravery, and proactively adapting to the increasingly high demands of foreign affairs work. — VNA/VNS