Jakarta, February 11 (AseanAll) — At the invitation of the University of Warwick and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary‑General of ASEAN, undertook a working visit to the UK, from 6 to 11 February 2026.
The visit marked the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN–UK Dialogue Partnership, reaffirming the shared commitment to advancing a strong, practical, and forward-looking partnership to promote regional peace, resilience, and sustainable economic growth.
The visit underscored the UK’s long-term engagement with ASEAN and its support for a stable, prosperous, and open Indo-Pacific region, guided by respect for ASEAN Centrality and adherence to existing ASEAN processes and procedures. Over the past five years, the UK has made substantial progress in delivering the ASEAN–UK Plan of Action (2022–2026) across all three ASEAN Community pillars. The Secretary‑General and his counterparts in the UK discussed opportunities to build on this strong foundation and ensure continued alignment with ASEAN’s priorities, especially for its successor document.
The Secretary‑General met with the Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP. Both sides reviewed the significant progress achieved since the partnership’s establishment and reaffirmed their strong commitment to expanding cooperation that brings shared benefits to the region and the wider international community.
The Secretary‑General also held discussions with the Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Seema Malhotra MP. They discussed strengthening regional resilience through capability development and capacity‑building, reiterating their commitment to addressing shared challenges through deeper collaboration under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
The Secretary‑General and the Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, Sir Chris Bryant MP, discussed opportunities to enhance economic cooperation, including support for MSMEs, supply chain resilience, and digital economy development. The Secretary‑General also met Naz Shah MP, the UK’s ASEAN Trade Envoy, and exchanged views on strengthening trade, investment, and broader economic engagement between ASEAN and the UK.
The Secretary‑General delivered keynote remarks at a roundtable at Asia House with business leaders, policy experts, and UK private sector representatives on opportunities for enhanced economic and financial cooperation. Discussions explored ASEAN’s growing digital economy, MSME development, and ways to strengthen regional economic integration through closer ASEAN–UK collaboration.
The Secretary‑General also participated in a UK–ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) event. The session highlighted ASEAN’s economic priorities and encouraged deeper business-to-business connections between Southeast Asia and the UK.
At the University of Warwick, the Secretary‑General delivered a keynote address at the 2026 Warwick Economics Summit, outlining ASEAN’s economic outlook, development priorities, and opportunities for collaboration with the UK. He also met the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to discuss sustainable urban development, resilient cities, and infrastructure cooperation, and engaged with ASEAN–UK Women in STEM scholars, signaling ASEAN’s commitment to advancing gender equality, STEM learning, and research cooperation.
The Secretary‑General joined a luncheon with the ASEAN London Committee (ALC), attended by the Heads of Mission of ASEAN Member States based in London. The meeting reiterated the importance of coordinated ASEAN engagement with the UK and explored opportunities to advance practical cooperation.
The Secretary-General visited the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) China Institute and delivered the WSD Handa Distinguished Annual Lecture 2026. After which, he visited the British Council and the East Bank Cultural Quarter, where he met leaders in education, culture, and the creative industries. Discussions highlighted opportunities to deepen collaboration in arts and culture, skills development, education programmes, and creative-economy partnerships.
The Secretary‑General expressed his appreciation to the Government of the UK, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the University of Warwick, and all partner institutions, for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made throughout the visit.
