The diplomat noted that on his very first day after taking office, the UK's new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, chose to attend ASEAN for his first international engagement. Before joining fellow Foreign Ministers at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, his first bilateral meeting was with Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.
Together, they went on to co-chair the ASEAN-UK Post-Ministerial Conference, reflecting the importance of bilateral partnership and Vietnam's role as ASEAN-UK Country Coordinator.
“That first overseas engagement was no coincidence. In an increasingly volatile world, ASEAN provides a trusted and open platform for dialogue,” said Frew.
According to the ambassador, this year, the UK and the bloc celebrate the fifth anniversary of dialogue partnership by committing to continue advancing together. The sides have completed 99 percent of their first Plan of Action, agreed on a new set of more focused and ambitious commitments for the next five years, and adopted a joint statement on the Indo-Pacific. The UK has also become the latest member of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
“Vietnam’s role as country coordinator has been instrumental in getting us to this point. From close consultations to joint projects, Vietnam has helped expand cooperation and keep the partnership in line with regional priorities. We will build on this in the years ahead,” he added.
Talking about the doubling of ASEAN-UK trade over the past five years to more than GBP62 billion, Frew acknowledged that UK-Vietnam trade has contributed significantly to this growth, nearly doubling to over GBP10 billion by the end of 2025. This growth is coupled with targeted economic cooperation. The ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Program (EIP) has been supporting regulatory reform, digitalising trade, and promoting inclusive financial services in all ASEAN states.
The ambassador went on stressing that the Vietnam relationship is testament to how strong bilateral ties can strengthen regional partnerships. “The upgrade of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last year reflects the breadth and depth of cooperation that our two countries have built over many years across key sectors, including trade, investment, education, climate, security and innovation. This relationship also benefits the wider ASEAN region.”
According to him, the ASEAN Future Forum is a great example of these efforts. The UK has supported this Vietnam-led initiative since its inception in 2024.
“Working with the Diplomatic Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, we have brought policymakers, experts, young leaders from across ASEAN and dialogue partners together to develop and exchange ideas on this region's future. Seeing increasing value in this platform, the UK and Vietnam stepped up our contribution to supporting ASEAN and UK youths to attend the 2025 and 2026 AFF, where they shared their vision of the future directly with state leaders, officials, businesses, and experts.”
Cooperation in energy security is another strong example, he noted. The UK is accelerating investment in clean power across Southeast Asia. The country is working closely together through its co-leadership of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to support Vietnam’s ambition to expand renewable energy, unlock investment in offshore wind, and build a cleaner, more resilient energy system for the future.
“The most successful regional partnerships are built on strong bilateral relationships. And the strongest bilateral relationships flourish within an effective regional framework. That is why the UK will continue to advance together with ASEAN - and with Vietnam - for many years to come,” Frew said.
