Foreign Minister Kuleba: Ukraine to prioritize Asia-Pacific in its foreign policy

Foreign Minister Kuleba: Ukraine to prioritize Asia-Pacific in its foreign policy

Ukrinform
It is high time to shift to the higher gear in Ukraine’s relations with Asia, Ukrainian Foreign Minister believes.

“Indeed, we want to welcome more of Asia in Ukraine, and to see more of Ukraine in Asia. Recent events prompt all of us to reimagine the notion of “international business as usual,” and seek out new solutions and develop new trustworthy long-term partnerships,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba writes in an article for The Diplomat.

He is convinced that Ukraine has all the prerequisites for becoming a meaningful nexus between the European Union and Asia.

“While Ukraine’s path toward integration in the European Union remains unchanged and we do intend to continue strengthening our transatlantic ties, I see the new speed of partnership with Asia as natural and complementary to our European aspirations. The idea is to become a meaningful nexus to economic ties between the European Union and Asia,” reads the article.

Since 2016, Ukraine-ASEAN trade in goods and services has increased by almost 45 percent, with Ukraine’s exports up 48 percent.

 “Still I truly believe the current figures do not correspond to existing potential. Ukraine and ASEAN can naturally complement each other’s economies, taking advantage of IT and agriculture potential,” Kuleba notes.

The Ukrainian foreign minister cites an example of Ukraine’s relations with Singapore: over the last three years, the bilateral trade increased four times.

“Ukrainian Embassies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam provide a solid foundation for deepening our relations with ASEAN in trade, investment, and tourism. Last year, the number of tourists from Southeast Asia to Ukraine has increased, and I know Ukrainians are always welcomed in this part of the world,” the minister highlights.

Kuleba believes that global changes triggered by coronavirus pandemic is the right time to all countries, including Ukraine and Asian countries, to cope with their shortcomings and vulnerabilities, to ensure uninterrupted supplies, provide support to small and medium enterprises, and to help their people in finding jobs and developing businesses. Therefore, it is high time to Ukraine to, inter alia, build up its relations and deepen cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region.

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