Britain's economy expanded by 1.3% in 2025, according to final data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday. The growth figure comes as analysts assess Asia's increasing influence on global economic patterns, particularly through trade relationships with major economies like China and India.
While the UK's moderate growth reflects post-pandemic recovery efforts, business leaders highlight strengthened partnerships with Asian markets as a stabilizing factor. Cross-border investments from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia accounted for 18% of all foreign direct investment in Britain last year, according to preliminary trade data.
Economic observers note that the UK's performance aligns with broader trends in Europe-Asia commerce, where APEC members collectively maintained 3.1% GDP growth in 2025. This interdependence will be a key discussion point at next month's APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
