Wayne David, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Vietnam. (Photo: provided by Wayne David) London (VNA) - Therelationship between Vietnam and the UK benefiting people in both countries isseen to be extremely successful, being the key thing and the important lessonto learn when the two countries are celebrating 50 years of their diplomaticrelations.
This view was shared by Mr Wayne David,Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Vietnam, in a recentinterview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in the UK.
Mr Wayne David said September 1973 wasa historic moment when Vietnam and the UK began formal diplomatic relations,which have developed gradually over a period of time with a significantmilestone in 2010 when a strategic partnership was created between the twocountries.
According to the APPG Chair, thatpartnership has been enormously successful, resulting in cooperation withregard to education and training, trade, investment and many other things.
He stressed that more importantly isthe development of a mutually beneficial relationship where not only thegovernments of the two countries but also the two peoples have benefited.
At the Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue on June 12, 2023 in London, the UK. (Photo: VNA)The APPG Chair pointed out that whilegrowing two-way trade resulting in increasing prosperity in both countries is atangible achievement in bilateral relations, the success of this relationshiphas been seen in other aspects. He cited the increasing number of Britishtourists visiting Vietnam, which is not only important in an economic sense,but also in terms of developing a more in-depth cultural relationship betweenthe two countries, which is truly important.
Having led a delegation from the UKParliament in two visits to Vietnam, Mr Wayne David was enormously impressednot only by all the economic activities in the country but also by the beautyof Vietnam and the friendliness of its people.
The APPG Chair stressed underpinning ofhuman relations is so important in making sure that the two countries’partnership is firmed up and develops well into the future.
With regard to the relationship betweenthe Vietnamese National Assembly and the UK Parliament, the APPG reaffirmed theimportance of this relationship, saying it has seen positive developments overthe last few years.
As the APPG Chair, Mr Wayne David wasable to agree a special Memorandum of Understanding between the VietnameseNational Assembly and the UK Parliament. However, because of COVID-19, the twosides were unable to sign it soon after they agreed, the APPG Chair said,hoping he will be able to come to Vietnam again and formally sign thisagreement, providing a framework for exchanges and dialogue between the twoassemblies.
Attaching importance to a relationshipthat can bring about specific benefits for both countries, he stressed that itis important to not just talk about how diplomatic relations can be improved orhow economic cooperation can be strengthened, but also to talk about how thetwo countries can learn from each other and how their cooperation can benefittheir people.
The APPG Chair said cultural and musicalevents such as the concert held in the Royal College in London on September 7 withVietnamese, British and international musicians to celebrate the 50thanniversary of Vietnam-UK relations, which he attended, reinforce the fact thatVietnam-UK relationship is not just about economics, prosperity and developingeducation, important though they are, but also about the close relationshipbetween people.
He said these are the areas in whichparliamentarians of the two countries could collaborate to make sure that allbenefit from the two countries’ ever closer relationship.
Speaking about prospects for bilateralcooperation, Mr Wayne David said it is important to recognise that therelationship between the two countries cannot be a top-down relationship.This means it is the people themselves, rather than the two governments, tocome together and recognise that their close relationship is to mutualbenefits.
He listed climate change, education,culture and cooperation between regions of the two countries, among others, asareas important for the two countries to work together.
The APPG said one of the big challengeshuman beings all over the globe are facing is climate change, citing heatwavesand wildfires breaking out in different parts of Europe as a result of risingtemperature. He said with expertise and technology in dealing with climatechange and environmental problems as well as treating new energy, the UK can beof practical assistance to Vietnam, where there is a growing problem withregard to climate change leading to flooding and other problems in the MekongDelta in particular.
He also emphasised cooperation ineducation as we all now live in a global village where young people in schoolsshould understand their each other’s countries, their cultures and languagesand should develop as internationalists rather than nationalists. He pointed toan important link that the two countries should seek to develop in the future,which is Vietnam regards education extremely important and today 13,000students from Vietnam are studying in the UK. He expects in the future it willbe much easier for the students from Vietnam to study in Britain.
Seeing cooperation between regions inthe two countries as an important dimension to bilateral relationship, the APPGChair said Vietnam and the UK can further work on this, citing the culturalrelationship between Sheffield and Hanoi, or a number of colleges in Walesworking with educational institutions in Vietnam as good examples. He waspleased that Vietnam and his homeland, Wales, have seen stronger links over thelast few years, especially with the recent visit to Cardiff by VietnameseAmbassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long during which he met the Welsh FirstMinister and had a productive discussion on enhancing their cooperation.
As Chair of APPG, Mr Wayne David said the Group has anadvantage in promoting Vietnam-UK relationship because APPG had members of allthe different political parties in the UK, who are from both the House ofCommons and House of Lords. Although having differences, the members of theGroup have all agreed that the relationship between Vietnam and the UK is veryimportant. The cross-party agreement of this means that even if there is achange of government, as the general election will take place next year, theassociation and relationship with Vietnam will continue with the relationship,which is so strong that it goes beyond the transcendence of politicaldivisions./.
