UK’s Ambassador-Designate to ASEAN outlines key priorities in the region

The UK’s Ambassador-Designate to ASEAN, Jon Lambe, will shortly take up post in Jakarta to head up the UK’s new mission to the region. Ahead of his posting, Asia House welcomed the diplomat to brief Corporate Members on the UK’s priorities in Southeast Asia amid a rapidly changing and uncertain regional and global landscape.

The Ambassador-Designate highlighted ASEAN’s  importance to the UK and outlined the four key priority areas for the UK in the region, before taking questions from around the table.

Questions ranged from the US-China trade war, and how the UK is approaching ASEAN within this context, to the Belt and Road Initiative in Southeast Asia and tourism and higher education opportunities. Brexit, perhaps inevitably, was also discussed, including how UK policy towards ASEAN is likely to differ from the European Union’s.

The off-the-record briefing was chaired by Michael Lawrence, Chief Executive of Asia House, and was held exclusively for Asia House Corporate Members.

Find out more about Corporate Membership at Asia House.

The role of ASEAN in global trade will be discussed at the upcoming Asia House Global Trade Dialogue in Singapore on 7 November. Speakers include Natalie Black, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, UK Government.