LONDON - New Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is heading for the Far East on a major trade mission, claiming the UK needs to "raise our game" after Brexit.
He is joining a meeting of 10 South East Asian countries in Bangkok in a bid to strengthen ties with countries around the world when the UK leaves the EU.
On his first visit overseas visit in his new job, he is meeting with foreign ministers from 10 countries representing a market of 650 million people and with trade links with the UK worth £36bn per year.
"For too long, our trade focus has been on Europe," said Mr Raab, who replaced Boris Johnson's Tory leadership rival Jeremy Hunt in the new prime minister's ruthless clear-out of Theresa May loyalists from the cabinet.
"We need to expand our horizons, and raise our game. That means grasping the enormous global opportunities for the UK - and my first trip as foreign secretary will look to strengthen our friendships across Asia.
"This region is already worth £36bn per year in trade with the UK - and there are opportunities for us to boost that trade to benefit UK businesses and consumers.
"I'll also be looking at how we can strengthen our regional security cooperation, and work together on global challenges like climate change."
In his Bangkok talks, Mr Raab is meeting the foreign ministers of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
According to the Foreign Office, trade with these countries is set to grow, with their economic growth forecast to be significantly above the global average over the next five years and the region on course to become the world's fourth largest economy by 2030.
The UK is opening a new permanent British diplomatic mission in Jakarta, specifically dedicated to growing links with these countries, later this year.
The Foreign Office says that by the end of 2020 the UK will have 282 posts in 180 countries & territories including representation at 10 international organisations.
During his visit the foreign secretary will attend the opening ceremony of the annual meeting of the so-called ASEAN foreign ministers, a gala dinner and a one-to-one meeting with Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.
Alongside economic issues, the Foreign Secretary is also expected to discuss security issues and how to deepen co-operation to strengthen international rules.(FA)
