UK invites ASEAN to G-7 Summit, signifies 'growing Indo-Pacific tilt'

Britain will be hosting this year`s G-7 meet and has for the first time invited the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signifying a "growing Indo-Pacific tilt."

London: Ministers from the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialised nations are set to participate in a meeting that will take place in Britain`s Liverpool next month. The G-7 meet, under the presidency of Britain, will commence from December 10 and will continue for three days, stated the UK government.

Britain will be hosting this year`s G-7 meet and has for the first time invited the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signifying a "growing Indo-Pacific tilt", reported Kyodo News, citing UK government sources.

Japan`s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno addressing a press conference in Tokyo on Monday (November 22) stated that the invitation to ASEAN nations portrays UK`s "willingness to strengthen its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region."