(VOVworld) – The Vietnamese Embassy in the UK on Tuesday hosted the first ASEAN forum in this country to boost cooperation between the UK and ASEAN members. Vu Quang Minh, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, said in his opening address that the forum comes at an appropriate moment, when the UK is shifting its diplomatic policies and development plans, to the East, focusing on Asia, particularly ASEAN. British Minister of State Hugo Swire delivered a speech on the importance of UK-ASEAN relations. Swire expressed his hope that the forum will create a premise for more comprehensive UK-ASEAN partnership and understanding through periodic meetings and visits.