I am today laying before Parliament Government White Paper Command 6762, "Active Diplomacy for a Changing World: the UK's International Priorities".In a world of global communications and markets, our security and prosperity depend more than ever on what happens in other parts of the world. "Active Diplomacy for a Changing World: The UK's International Priorities" updates the FCO's 2003 White Paper, "UK International Priorities: A Strategy for the FCO". It identifies the trends we expect to shape the world in the next 10 years, sets out the UK's role in the international system, and identifies the strategic international priorities for the Government as a whole.The world in the next 10 yearsBased on extensive consultation with partners around Government and beyond, some of the trends and their implications for the UK outlined in the White Paper are:The gathering pace of globalisation. The flow of people, goods, money and knowledge, and the rapid growth of Asia, present new opportunities and risks. We will need to adapt our economy, and work with others to support global economic openness. And we must also help build effective states able to provide security, opportunity, justice and basic services for their citizens.Pressures on natural resources. Economic demand, population growth and climate change are putting the world's natural resources under new pressure. We will need to manage increasing competition for energy in particular.An uncertain security environment. Terrorism will remain the primary security threat to the UK. The fight to control the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons will be crucial over the next ten years. There will be new risks to fragile states and uncertainty about developments in key parts of the Middle East, Africa and Asia.The UK Government's responseTo meet these and other challenges, the British Government:Must be engaged around the globe to shape developments at a time of rapid change.Must strengthen its partnerships and international institutions to build a future based on common values and interests.Must secure closer co-operation across Government and with others as the impact at home of events overseas continues to grow.The UK's International PrioritiesThe 2003 White Paper introduced a set of strategic priorities to guide the Government's international policy. This new White Paper builds on these strategic priorities, and introduces some new ones.The provision of public services to UK citizens abroad has always been a core activity. The continuing importance of delivering high quality consular support, against a backdrop of increasing demand, has led to our decision to introduce a new strategic priority to cover this activity.We have also introduced a new strategic priority on managing migration and combating illegal immigration. The pressures driving migration are significant. Managing our economic, social, security and development objectives will be an important task for Government in the years ahead.On the basis of this assessment, the strategic international priorities for Government identified in the White Paper are:1. Making the world safer from global terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.2. Reducing the harm to the UK from international crime, including drug trafficking, people smuggling and money laundering.3. Preventing and resolving conflict through a strong international system.4. Building an effective and globally competitive EU in a secure neighbourhood.5. Supporting the UK economy and business through an open and expanding global economy, science and innovation and secure energy supplies.6. Promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction underpinned by human rights, democracy, good governance and protection of the environment.7. Managing migration and combating illegal immigration.8. Delivering high-quality support for British nationals abroad, in normal times and in crises.9. Ensuring the security and good governance of the UK's Overseas Territories.The role of the FCOThe White Paper also sets out how the FCO will continue to adapt to take forward the strategic priorities, working with others in Government. The role of the FCO is to exercise judgment and influence in order to shape the future for the benefit of our citizens and others. We must be engaged on the ground with the knowledge, experience and skills to effect change.Our network of posts must continue to adapt to new opportunities and risks. We are moving resources to priorities in Asia and the Middle East; tackling issues such as conflict, energy security and economic and political reform in key regions; developing rapid deployment teams for crisis response; and using information and communications technology to help us work more flexibly and effectively.This White Paper and the strategic priorities will provide the framework for deploying our efforts as resources remain tight and demand for our services grows.

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-03-28a.58WS.2