Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held online talks with his UK counterpart Boris Johnson on October 26. (Photo: VNA)Chinh again thanked the UK government for itstimely donation of 415,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam,and suggested the UK continue to help Vietnam access vaccines and treatment drugs, especially the transfer of COVID-19vaccine production technologies.
Lauding Vietnam’s performance in pandemic preventionand control, Johnson said the UK will present more medical supplies worth500,000 GBP (689,930 USD) to the Southeast Asian nation.
PM Chinh spoke highly of the UK’s leading role in raisingcommitments and initiatives at the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conferenceof the Parties (COP26) and affirmed that Vietnam will continue to make strongcommitments to contributing to global efforts against climate change, andclosely coordinate with the UK to ensure the success of the event.
Both PMs expressed their delight at the strongdevelopment of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership over the past time, and consentedto further the coordination to accelerate the materialization of multi-facetedcooperation orientations.
Johnson praised Vietnam’s role and position in theregion and within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), stressingthe UK considers Vietnam an important partner in the region as the UK isadjusting its policy towards strengthening cooperation with Indo-Pacific.
Chinh suggested the UK further facilitate access to its market for Vietnamese goods, and encourage British firms toexpand their investments in areas with good potential in Vietnam.
The leaders noted with pleasure the fine cooperationbetween Vietnam and the UK at the United Nations Security Council during thetime when Vietnam serves as a non-permanent member (2020-2021), and within theframework of the Asia-Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM).
Johnson thanked Vietnam for supporting the UK tobecome a dialogue partner of ASEAN, as well as in negotiations to join the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
While exchanging views on regional and internationalissues of shared concern, the leaders stressed the significance of ensuring thefreedom of navigation and aviation, security and peace in the East Sea, andobserving international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) – a legal framework for all activities at sea.
The Vietnamese PM invited his UK counterpart to payan official visit to Vietnam at an early date. PM Johnson accepted the invitationwith pleasure./.
VNA
