ASEAN-UK Economic Partnership: Joint Media Statement

Across five years of collaboration, ASEAN and the United Kingdom have built a durable partnership grounded in mutual economic interests, shared values, and a forward-looking vision for regional and global prosperity. As both parties reflect on progress to date, there is a clear commitment to deepen trade and investment ties, strengthen supply chains, and bolster economic resilience against evolving global challenges.

Trade and investment: momentum and ambition
The past half-decade has seen tangible gains in bilateral trade and investment flows. Strengthened policy dialogue, targeted sectoral cooperation, and enhanced market access have created a more predictable and open environment for businesses. Companies in ASEAN benefit from the UK’s high standards, rigorous regulatory frameworks, and robust technology and services ecosystems, while UK firms gain access to diverse markets and regional manufacturing networks.

Key areas of emphasis include:
– Market access and tariff liberalisation where feasible, with a focus on removing non-tariff barriers and simplifying customs procedures to reduce transactional friction.
– Greater cooperation on services, including financial services, professional services, logistics, and digital trade, reflecting the growing importance of the ASEAN digital economy.
– Strategic collaboration to unlock investment in priority sectors such as clean energy, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and sustainable transport.

Supply chains: resilience through diversification and cooperation
The partnership recognises that resilient supply chains are essential for both regional stability and global prosperity. To that end, initiatives have focused on diversifying sources, improving transparency, and fostering redundancy in critical sectors. Collaboration spans:
– Joint efforts to map and analyse supply chain dependencies, identifying vulnerabilities and opportunities for diversification.
– Strengthening regional value chains through the sharing of best practices, standards harmonisation, and the development of cross-border logistics capabilities.
– Resilience-led investment in infrastructure, digital connectivity, and data-sharing mechanisms that enable smoother, more secure trade flows.

Economic resilience: readiness for a changing world
Economic resilience is now a central pillar of the ASEAN-UK partnership. The past five years have underscored the importance of adaptable economies that can weather shocks, pivot quickly to new opportunities, and sustain growth for businesses and workers. Strategic priorities include:
– Coordinated responses to macroeconomic shocks, including policy dialogue on monetary, fiscal, and structural reforms that support sustainable growth.
– Collaboration on green growth and the transition to a low-carbon economy, which aligns with broader global climate commitments and creates new opportunities for trade and investment.
– Support for inclusive growth by promoting skills development, digital literacy, and opportunities for SMEs to participate more fully in regional and cross-border markets.

People, governance, and shared values
A partnership of this nature thrives on continuous dialogue, transparency, and a shared commitment to high standards of governance, human rights, and the rule of law. Regular ministerial meetings, business-to-business exchanges, and civil society engagement have strengthened trust and created channels for practical cooperation. The collaboration also prioritises capacity-building, knowledge transfer, and best-practice exchange to ensure that both regions can benefit from innovative approaches and lessons learnt.

Looking ahead: a roadmap for deeper engagement
As ASEAN and the UK enter the next phase of their partnership, the focus is on translating commitments into measurable action. Among the evolving priorities:
– Expanding market access and harmonising regulatory standards in key sectors such as digital services, financial technology, and sustainable infrastructure.
– Scaling up private-sector collaboration, including joint ventures, co-investment funds, and technology transfer that support SMEs and mid-market enterprises.
– Strengthening cross-border supply chain collaboration through joint pilots, regional hubs for resilience, and enhanced digital trade facilitation.
– Accelerating climate-smart growth and sustainable development, ensuring that trade and investment advance environmental objectives and inclusivity.
– Building institutional capacity and shareable best practices to sustain momentum through leadership continuity and inclusive governance.

Conclusion
The five-year milestone marks both a moment of achievement and a launchpad for deeper cooperation. The ASEAN-UK partnership has matured into a practical, impact-driven alliance that aligns trade and investment ambitions with the real-world needs of businesses, workers, and communities across both regions. By continuing to prioritise trade facilitation, resilient supply chains, and economic resilience, the partnership is well-positioned to generate sustainable growth, create high-quality jobs, and contribute to a more open, prosperous, and secure global economy.

September 22, 2026 at 10:51AM
东盟-英国经济伙伴关系：联合媒体声明
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/asean-uk-economic-partnership-joint-media-statement
东盟与英国共同纪念五周年伙伴关系，并就贸易、投资、供应链和经济韧性作出承诺。

阅读更多中文内容： 五年伙伴共进：ASEAN与英国在贸易、投资、供应链与经济韧性方面的承诺与展望