Heathrow Harry,
I have no idea who you are talking to, and their importance or relevance, but I have just returned (Saturday morning) from a series of seminars and meetings with Business folk, politicians, military leaders, financiers and investors in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Saigon, and I can assure you that those people most certainly DO see the UK as a significant player in a whole host of fields including investment, trade, defence, influence and partnership.
The pull out from the Far East in 1972 was regretted by all locally at the time but was totally understood as the end of a colonial era that was no longer appropriate for independent nations. As to our economic clout, we remain extremely important to these nations, just compare GDP's, spending power and growth rates and you will see why.