(PETALING JAYA) The United Kingdom values its relationship with ASEAN, says British High Commissioner Alisa Terry.

As one of the most proactive dialogue partners of ASEAN, UK has invested funds for many projects in this region,’’ she said.

Due to increase in population and the robust economic development in Southeast Asia, ASEAN has become the centre  of UK’s foreign policy.

She said this after leading a delegation to visit Sin Chew Daily on Wednesday (15 May) where a dialogue was held with the editorial department on ties with Malaysia and international affairs.

As the rotating host for ASEAN next year, Terry said Malaysia would encounter opportunities such as attracting foreign investments, speeding up energy transformation, removing trade barriers among ASEAN countries, initiating economic and security collaboration.

On US-China tensions, while the tensions escalated, she said countries need not choose sides.

“We hope all countries are in a cordial relationship instead of confrontation, “she said.

“Similar with Malaysia, UK has a huge Chinese community with many famous politicians and businessmen. The Chinese have integrated well in the British society,’’ she said.

Since assuming the position as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia last July, Terry met Malaysians who were directly and indirectly linked to UK, reflecting a close relationship between the people of two countries.

She had since visited Penang, Malacca, Johor, Kelantan and the East Malaysia.

She said the advanced chip design development in UK and the mass production and packaging in Malaysia offer huge potential for collaboration.

“We had a semiconductor roundtable meeting held in Penang on last October where companies and the relevant government agencies had bilateral visits after the meeting, “ she said, adding that this later sealed collaboration between a British company and SMD Semiconductor owned by the Sarawak Government.

The RM2 billion (337 million pound) International Science Partnerships Fund launched by the UK government supports researchers and innovators throughout the world for collaboration in environmental conservation, health, technology and human talent, she said.

On its policy with China, Terry said UK advocates a friendly and constructive relationship with China to engage in proactive discussion on issues such as health, trade, artificial intelligence and others.

UK once assisted China to join the World Trade Organisation and worked with China closely on many sectors.

While acknowledging China’s feat in the mass production of solar panel, solar batteries and electric vehicles, UK is concerned when China is keen to lead in some of the regulatory plannings in energy transformation.

Nevertheless, China is welcome to assist in ceasing Russia-Ukraine conflict and cease fire in Gaza, she said.

(PETALING JAYA) The United Kingdom values its relationship with ASEAN, says British High Commissioner Alisa Terry.

As one of the most proactive dialogue partners of ASEAN, UK has invested funds for many projects in this region,’’ she said.

Due to increase in population and the robust economic development in Southeast Asia, ASEAN has become the centre  of UK’s foreign policy.

She said this after leading a delegation to visit Sin Chew Daily on Wednesday (15 May) where a dialogue was held with the editorial department on ties with Malaysia and international affairs.

As the rotating host for ASEAN next year, Terry said Malaysia would encounter opportunities such as attracting foreign investments, speeding up energy transformation, removing trade barriers among ASEAN countries, initiating economic and security collaboration.

On US-China tensions, while the tensions escalated, she said countries need not choose sides.

“We hope all countries are in a cordial relationship instead of confrontation, “she said.

“Similar with Malaysia, UK has a huge Chinese community with many famous politicians and businessmen. The Chinese have integrated well in the British society,’’ she said.

Since assuming the position as the British High Commissioner to Malaysia last July, Terry met Malaysians who were directly and indirectly linked to UK, reflecting a close relationship between the people of two countries.

She had since visited Penang, Malacca, Johor, Kelantan and the East Malaysia.

She said the advanced chip design development in UK and the mass production and packaging in Malaysia offer huge potential for collaboration.

“We had a semiconductor roundtable meeting held in Penang on last October where companies and the relevant government agencies had bilateral visits after the meeting, “ she said, adding that this later sealed collaboration between a British company and SMD Semiconductor owned by the Sarawak Government.

The RM2 billion (337 million pound) International Science Partnerships Fund launched by the UK government supports researchers and innovators throughout the world for collaboration in environmental conservation, health, technology and human talent, she said.

On its policy with China, Terry said UK advocates a friendly and constructive relationship with China to engage in proactive discussion on issues such as health, trade, artificial intelligence and others.

UK once assisted China to join the World Trade Organisation and worked with China closely on many sectors.

While acknowledging China’s feat in the mass production of solar panel, solar batteries and electric vehicles, UK is concerned when China is keen to lead in some of the regulatory plannings in energy transformation.

Nevertheless, China is welcome to assist in ceasing Russia-Ukraine conflict and cease fire in Gaza, she said.