UK names Asean envoy, first of EU members

In responding to the appointment, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan expressed gratitude to saying that it undersocres the importance the UK attaches to Asean.

"We look forward to working with Ambassador Hatfull to build closer ties bilaterally and to further strengthen our relationship with the European Union, which the UK is a member of," Surin said.

With Hatfull's appointment, the UK became the first member state of the European Union to appoint an envoy to Asean. The European Union has established dialogue relations with ASEAN since 1972.

Hatfull is concurrently the Indonesian envoy.

Under the ASEAN Charter, non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint Ambassadors to ASEAN.