It is the Little and Large show!
The wee man will answer the big ’un.
The UK has strong relations with the ASEAN countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally. We have formal relations with ASEAN through the EU, via the EU-ASEAN dialogue, the Asia-Europe meeting and the ASEAN regional forum. To maintain UK-ASEAN relations, and to ensure that we are fully aware of current issues, I regularly meet ASEAN ambassadors and high commissioners. I will attend the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting on 15 March.
Given that the ASEAN countries have a combined population of 558 million and a combined gross domestic product of more than $850 billion, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that British representation is adequately furnished to ASEAN through the European Union? Should not such a vital market, where we have such enormous interests and which is developing at such a pace, have much bigger British representation on its own?
Let me reassure the hon. Gentleman that as well as multilateral relationships through the European Union for trade negotiations, we have bilateral relationships which provide increasing resources for United Kingdom trade and investment in all the countries in that region. As the Minister responsible, I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that a great deal of effort is going into putting new investment, skills and technology into those relationships. We have a growing trade relationship with all the ASEAN countries, except of course Burma, because of the specific circumstances. Those sanctions will remain.
I will be visiting the region in the coming months, including Vietnam, in which I know the hon. Gentleman takes a specific interest. If he wishes to have a meeting with me before that visit, I shall welcome him to my rather rotund and large office in the Foreign Office, which will suit him admirably, to discuss issues relating to my visit.