ASEAN, UK expand cooperation on climate action and energy security

These priorities were highlighted at the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Philippines, co-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

As part of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-59) and related meetings, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung co-chaired the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in Manila, the Philippines, on July 22.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized that ASEAN-UK relations have been built over several decades. The establishment of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership in 2021 was not the beginning of the relationship, but rather marked its transition into a new phase characterized by greater strategic significance and a higher level of institutionalization.

Entering this new stage, Minister Le Hoai Trung proposed that ASEAN-UK cooperation shift its focus from pursuing growth to strengthening resilience, self-reliance, and innovation, building on the increasingly strong foundation of mutual trust.

He also called for closer strategic coordination between the two sides, both within ASEAN-led mechanisms and in other regional and global frameworks, particularly in 2027, when Viet Nam will host APEC, Singapore will serve as ASEAN Chair, and the UK will assume the G20 Presidency.

Minister Le Hoai Trung welcomed the UK's support for the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid, the promotion of a just energy transition, green finance, and the development of next-generation clean energy technologies, all of which contribute to strengthening the region's energy security.

As the first ASEAN member state to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UK and in its capacity as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-UK relations, Minister Le Hoai Trung reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to working closely with other ASEAN members to bring ASEAN-UK cooperation into a new phase that is more substantive, effective, and responsive to the practical interests of the people.

For his part, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband reaffirmed that ASEAN occupies a central place in the UK's strategy for the region. He reiterated the UK's support for ASEAN centrality, describing ASEAN as a model of multilateral cooperation, and expressed the UK's desire to further deepen and broaden relations with the bloc.

At the meeting, the ministers welcomed the significant and tangible progress achieved during the first five years of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership. They noted that implementation of the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2022-2026) is nearly complete, with an implementation rate of 98.9%.

The UK is currently ASEAN's 12th-largest trading partner and the sixth-largest source of foreign direct investment. In 2025, two-way trade reached an estimated US$45.01 billion, while UK foreign direct investment in ASEAN totaled US$9.2 billion.

The UK has actively participated in ASEAN cooperation mechanisms across all three pillars - political-security, economic, and socio-cultural - and has consistently supported ASEAN centrality. ASEAN foreign ministers particularly appreciated that Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband chose to attend ASEAN meetings as his first overseas trip just 48 hours after taking office, viewing this as a strong demonstration of both the UK's and his personal commitment to ASEAN and the wider region.

Building on these achievements and in response to the rapidly evolving strategic environment, the ministers agreed that ASEAN-UK relations should be guided by a more strategic and practical approach that delivers tangible benefits to the people.

Economic and trade cooperation will remain the cornerstone of the partnership, while collaboration will be expanded in digital transformation, climate action, energy security, human resource development, maritime security, cybersecurity, and the promotion of an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at its center.

The ministers also adopted the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action (2027-2031) and a Joint Statement on Cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), establishing the strategic framework for ASEAN-UK cooperation in the years ahead.

Earlier, Minister Le Hoai Trung held a bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. Minister Le Hoai Trung congratulated the UK on the formation of its new government and congratulated Mr. Miliband on assuming his new position.

The Vietnamese minister expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum of the Viet Nam-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and affirmed that Viet Nam would continue to play an active role as ASEAN-UK Country Coordinator, working with the UK to further strengthen the partnership, particularly in science and technology, business connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and highly appreciated Viet Nam's proactive role as Country Coordinator. He underscored the importance of ASEAN and Southeast Asia in the UK's foreign policy and expressed his desire to work closely with Viet Nam to deepen both bilateral ties and ASEAN-UK cooperation in the years ahead.

$ 1 = VND 26,500 - Source: Vietcombank.

Tung Dinh