Eastern promise
The economies of the far east will become crucial for British trade
Richard Graham
In November, the heads of government of the 10 countries that make up the Association of South East Asia Nations (Asean) gathered in the Philippines for Asean’s 50th anniversary summit. The journey for Asean out of wars, colonialism and poverty has been a critical one for Asia and the world. Now, as we leave the European Union, we must focus on how to deepen our relationship with Asean.
Their host’s choice of venue, Clark International Airport, which is north of Manila, is symbolic both of the changes in southeast Asia and the opportunities ahead. When I was general manager of Cathay Pacific in the Philippines over 30 years ago, Clark was a US Air Force Base winding down from its role in the Vietnam War. Recently I went back to host a Smart City event, and visited a British aviation company that trains both Filipino and Vietnamese pilots on Airbus A320 simulators.