President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK Dominic Raab (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urgedVietnam and the UK to continue deepening their bilateral strategic partnershipto meet the interests of the two countries and contribute to regional and worldpeace, stability and cooperation.
The President made the remark at a reception for First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of theUK Dominic Raab in Hanoi on June 22, who is on an official visit to Vietnam andattending the high-level policy dialogue of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
He said the two sides should give priority to the effectiveimplementation of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) towards creatingbreakthroughs in trade and investment cooperation, affirming that Vietnam willcreate all possible conditions for UK businesses to invest in potential fieldssuch as banking, insurance, financial services, digital services and renewableenergy.
Phuc hailed the UK as a leading country in Europe and the worldin researching, developing and administering COVID-19 vaccine, and asked the UKto help Vietnam access vaccine supply and production technology.
Secretary of State Raab underlined that the UK attaches importance to developingrelations with Vietnam as the UK is adjusting its policy towards the Indo-Pacificregion post Brexit. He informed President Phuc that he had discussed withForeign Minister Bui Thanh Son measures to implement the content of thebilateral strategic partnership, with a focus on the resumption of delegationexchange, cooperation mechanisms and orientations for coordination to optimize opportunitiesbrought by the UKVFTA.
The official said he was impressed by Vietnam’s work incontrolling COVID-19, and affirmed that the UK is ready to contribute vaccine toglobal efforts to control the pandemic, including providing vaccine to friendlycountries and strategic partners like Vietnam.
He thanked Vietnam, with its rising role in the region, foractively backing the UK in promoting its cooperation with ASEAN and negotiatingon joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP).
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK Dominic Raab, and other officials pose for a group photo. (Photo: VNA)The two sides agreed to work closely at important multilateral forumsin 2021 such as the UN Security Council, ASEM and the 26th UNClimate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
President Phuc spoke highly of the UK’s role and contribution topeace, security, and maritime freedom in the region and the world.
The UK official affirmed the importance of ensuring maritimeand navigation freedom, security and peace in the East Sea, and emphasized complianceto international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS 1982)./.
