Senior officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Kingdom reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties at the fourth ASEAN-UK Senior Officials’ Meeting (AUKSOM) in Da Nang, Vietnam, emphasizing closer collaboration across multiple pillars of partnership.
The two sides welcomed the solid progress under the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (POA) 2022-2026, with nearly 95 percent of action lines fulfilled or underway.
This momentum, officials said, provides a strong basis for developing a follow-up framework to further enhance cooperation. ASEAN also noted the headway made in the UK’s five flagship cooperation programs, pointing to the tangible impact and benefits of these initiatives.
In the political-security realm, ASEAN and the UK underscored the importance of deepening joint efforts in maritime security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.
They also committed to bolstering work on transnational crime, including issues involving drug trafficking and money laundering, and reiterated their support for Women, Peace and Security as well as Youth, Peace and Security agendas.
On the economic front, officials pledged to pursue greater integration in digital economy and artificial intelligence. They agreed to continue initiatives in science, technology, and innovation and to advance financial services, green finance, and supply chain resilience.
There was particular emphasis on fostering women’s economic empowerment and nurturing business-to-business partnerships, with a goal of promoting inclusive growth and energy transition throughout the region.
In the socio-cultural sphere, both sides expressed readiness to reinforce education, skills development, and cultural exchange. They highlighted the need to address climate change and to boost health and disaster risk reduction efforts. Strengthening people-to-people ties remained a central theme, while creative economies were identified as fertile ground for further exchange.
Regarding cross-pillar cooperation, the Senior Officials explored opportunities in Connectivity, smart cities, and sustainable urban development. They also discussed initiatives related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), and narrowing development gaps within the region.
Both sides noted the progress toward operationalizing the ASEAN-UK Joint Ministerial Statement on Connectivity. The meeting acknowledged the successful ASEAN-UK Connectivity Dialogue held immediately after the 4th AUKSOM, co-hosted by Vietnam and the UK.
Senior Officials exchanged views on a range of regional and global concerns, pledging to uphold multilateralism and the ASEAN-led regional architecture. They reiterated their commitment to implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) as a cornerstone of regional cooperation.
Looking ahead to the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership in 2026, the two sides signaled plans for commemorative activities to mark the milestone. The 4th AUKSOM was co-chaired by Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and ASEAN SOM Leader, H.E. Do Hung Viet, alongside H.E. Owen Jenkins, the UK Director-General for the Indo-Pacific and its ASEAN SOM Leader.
Attendees included ASEAN SOM Leaders or their representatives, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, and officials from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Timor-Leste participated as an observer.
Business News Asia
