Vietnam co-chairs the 4th ASEAN-UK Joint Cooperation Committee meeting

Delegates at the meeting. Photo: VNA

This is the first JCC meeting of Vietnam as the coordinator of ASEAN-UK relations for the 2024-2027 term. Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong, Head of the Vietnamese Mission to ASEAN, and British Ambassador to ASEAN Sarah Tiffin co-chaired the meeting. The two sides reviewed the progress of the implementation of the ASEAN-UK Action Plan 2022-2026 and jointly set out cooperation directions for the coming time.

Within the framework of the dialogue partnership, the UK is actively implementing many projects and initiatives in various fields. A typical example is the Green Transition Programme, with a total budget of up to 40 million GBP (51 million USD) to support ASEAN in reducing emissions, promoting green economic growth and supporting vulnerable groups.

In addition, the UK has also implemented a number of projects with a budget of £25-30 million, including the ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme, Support for Girls’ Education (SAGE) and the Health Security Partnership. In addition, the UK is also actively cooperating with ASEAN in other areas such as women’s issues, peace and security, science and technology cooperation and creative economy.

Entering the fourth year of implementing the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022-2026, the number of action lines implemented reached 171/181 (about 95%), an increase of more than 20% compared to the same period last year. Activities spanned all three pillars of cooperation: Politics - Security, Economy and Culture - Society. This is a positive signal as the two sides look forward to celebrating the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership in 2026.

On this occasion, British Ambassador Sarah Tiffin reaffirmed the new British government's commitment to continue supporting ASEAN's central role. This was demonstrated by the new British Foreign Secretary David Lammy's attendance at the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting in July 2024, just 3 weeks after taking office, along with many visits at all levels between ASEAN countries and the UK.

In her role as Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong provided an update on cooperation activities under the IAI framework and encouraged the UK to consider supporting projects under the IAI Work Plan IV and beyond. The British Ambassador noted this proposal and affirmed her continued commitment to supporting efforts to narrow the development gap and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration.

ASEAN delegates welcomed the UK’s efforts and commitment to implementing the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022-2026. The meeting appreciated the significance of ASEAN-UK cooperation projects and activities in areas such as green transformation, economic integration, maritime cooperation, as well as women, peace and security. The ambassadors encouraged the UK to enhance cooperation with ASEAN in potential areas such as artificial intelligence governance, renewable energy (supporting the ASEAN Power Grid), financial services and human resource development.

Delegates also appreciated the adoption of the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement on Connectivity in 2024, and expressed their desire to promote substantive cooperation in this area. On this occasion, Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong announced that Vietnam and the UK will co-organize the ASEAN-UK Connectivity Workshop in Da Nang on April 10, 2025, on the sidelines of the 4th ASEAN-UK Senior Officials’ Meeting.

VNA

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/viet-nam-dong-chu-tri-cuoc-hop-uy-ban-hop-tac-chung-asean-anh-lan-thu-4-post408663.html