The G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting continues in Liverpool today
[12th December], with Foreign Ministers from Southeast Asian
countries joining the discussions for the first time.
The talks are aimed at forging closer tech, economic and security
ties with the ten-nation ASEAN bloc. Today’s discussions will
take place at the Museum of Liverpool and Anfield, the home of
Liverpool Football Club, with most ASEAN foreign ministers
joining virtually. The Foreign Secretary wants the UK to have a
stronger relationship with the region to reflect its growing
importance and believes deeper ties can be a win-win.
Foreign Secretary said:
The first ever G7 meeting with ASEAN colleagues is a chance to
strengthen our trade, economic, technology and security ties with
Southeast Asia.
By joining forces and bringing freedom-loving nations together we
can ensure our links are not underpowered and properly reflect
the region’s size and importance. Deeper ties can be a win-win
delivering jobs and opportunities for British people while
ensuring an open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
As the UK tackles the challenges of the future with the economies
of the future, Truss will encourage her Southeast Asian
counterparts to play a role in shaping global standards on
cutting-edge tech.
The G7 and ASEAN will discuss working together to ensure the free
flow of data while stamping out pernicious practices like
intellectual property theft and cybercrime.
The Foreign Secretary will also back setting standards for
responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and promote UK-backed
cyber capacity that is steadily growing in the ASEAN region.
The crisis in Myanmar will be discussed during the meeting. The
Myanmar military was not invited to attend the event.
The UK condemns the military coup in Myanmar, the violence
against the people of Myanmar and the detention of members of the
civilian government and civil society, including State Counsellor
Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. Working through the UN
and NGOs the UK has already provided humanitarian assistance to
over half a million people since the coup in February and will
continue to work closely with ASEAN on our shared ambition of
ending the crisis in Myanmar.
Today’s meeting follows the launch of British International
Investment last month, which will invest billions in
infrastructure and technology across Asia. Two landmark deals
were also announced at COP26 in November, pledging support of up
to £110 million of honest, reliable finance for sustainable
infrastructure projects in ASEAN; and a further £274 million for
the wider region to strengthen climate resilience.
