Britain encourages EU to invest more in ASEAN region

As the European Union continues to suffer from financial turmoil, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) moves toward a single-market economy by 2015, Britain is urging EU nations to increase their investments ASEAN.   The United Kingdom is vigorously engaging Southeast Asia by providing expertise in disaster preparedness and taking an active position against the North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation, said British foreign secretary William Hague.   As part of Southeast Asian engagement, UK is reopening its embassy in British embassy in ASEAN member Laos, which was closed in 1985.   By increasing trade and investments in the ASEAN market, one of the world's largest with a population of 600 million, Hague said the benefits would spread back to EU member countries and the UK.   "We are deliberately doing this ahead of the culmination of plans to transform ASEAN into a single market and production base that is highly competitive and fully integrated into the global community by 2015, to the great benefit of the 600 million people who live in ASEAN countries," Hague said in a speech in Singapore, that was released to the Philippine media on Tuesday.   The secretary delivered a keynote speech on “Britain in Asia” in Singapore last week during the International Institute for Strategic Studies-Fullerton Lecture series.   ASEAN groups the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. The single-market integration aims to harmonize trade and economic policies and attract investments into the region.   “We believe that it is time for the EU to be more vigorously and coherently engaged with countries of the Asia-Pacific within the limits of its competencies, working to break down market barriers within Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world, championing free trade agreements, and working closely together in specialist areas such as disaster preparedness," said Hague.   Engaging Southeast Asian economies involve active support to the ASEAN economic integration by providing expertise and support trade measures in lowering trade barriers to boost trade and investments between the world's two biggest and influential regional blocs-ASEAN and EU, according to the secretary.   The British official said engagement in Asia also involves taking a robust position on North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation.   “We want Britain to be a leading partner with Asian countries in developing that prosperous future, in trade and commerce, in culture, education and development, and in foreign policy and security,” Hague noted.   “Our government will invest the time and effort to develop the political relationships and deep understanding to support this vision over the long term. Those countries in the region that choose to look to Britain will find a willing, active and serious partner for the 21st century,” he added.   As part of the increasing engagement in Southeast Asia, Britain is also expanding diplomatic network in Asia, said Trevor Lewis, chargé d’affaires of the British embassy in the Philippines.   “We hope to open up to eight new British diplomatic posts in Asia by 2015, and we are currently discussing this with the governments in question,” Hague noted.   By 2015, the UK will have deployed 60 extra staff members to China, 30 to India, and 50 more across the Asian network, including the Philippines.   "These extra posts and diplomats are the physical proof of our desire for broad and deep partnerships with Asian countries for the 21st century," said Hague. —VS, GMA News