Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) meets with UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on October 10 (Photo: VNA)London (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh and UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt agreed to offermutual consultations on regional and global issues of shared concern duringtheir talks in London on October 10.
They said fine bilateral relations over the past 45 yearshave laid an important foundation to further strengthen their strategicpartnership, which was established in 2010.
Speaking highly of the outcomes of strategic dialogue ondiplomacy, national defence-security in Hanoi in January 2018, both sides vowedto work closely together at multilateral forums, especially the United Nationsand the Asia-Europe Meeting.
On trade-investment, they welcomed the possibility of acceleratingnegotiations on Vietnam – UK Free Trade Agreement in order to enhance bilateraltrade and investment after the UK leaves the EU.
Hunt also promised to push forward the signing andratification of the EU – Vietnam FTA.
About the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed with theprinciple of settling disputes by peaceful means in line with internationallaw, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The UK side highlighted support for law abidance, security,safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters andoceans.
Meeting Prince Andrew, Duke of York at Buckingham Palace onOctober 9, Minh expressed his honour to visit the UK on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and wished that the British Royalwould continue backing Vietnam – UK strategic partnership.
He suggested that the Prince, with his prestige andinfluence, calls for UK investment in Vietnam, especially in start-ups andinnovation.
Andrew, for his part, said he holds special sentiment towardsVietnam and its people and wished that the Vietnamese government would offerall possible support to UK investors to do business in the country as potentialof bilateral collaboration remains huge.
He expressed his readiness to help the two nations’ firms shareinformation and assist Vietnam in building start-up ecosystem and trainingworkforce in high technology.
On the occasion, Deputy PM Minh presented Friendship Order toPrince Andrew in honour of his contributions to Vietnam – UK ties.
During a conversation with Lord Fowler, Speaker of the Houseof Lords, Minh said Vietnam always highly values the strengthening of strategicpartnership with the UK, with cooperation between the two legislatures as animportant channel.
He asked the two countries’ legislatures and lawmakers tofoster bilateral and multilateral collaboration, increase the exchange ofdelegations and meetings on the sidelines of important multilateral parliamentaryforums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Fowler affirmed that the House of Lords will back the reinforcementof the extensive development of Vietnam – UK relations for prosperity of eachcountry and benefits of their people.
Speaking at the Vietnam – UK Economic Forum that attractedover 200 leading UK and Vietnamese firms on October 9 afternoon, Minh affirmedthat Vietnam considers the development of trade and investment with the UK apillar in bilateral strategic partnership.
He highlighted Vietnam’s advantages such as a huge market,high-quality workforce, constructive government, global integration with 16FTAs which are already in force and under negotiation, digital infrastructureready for the fourth industrial revolution and start-ups.
Ed Vaizey, Minister of State at the Department for Business,Innovation and Skills and UK Prime Minister’s Envoy of Trade to Vietnam, hailedVietnam as a promising market and a gateway for UK firms to access ASEAN andother markets via a series of FTAs.
He encouraged UK firms to seek business opportunities inVietnam in the fields of finance, infrastructure, health care, innovation and education,affirming that the UK government always helps enterprises increase investmentin Vietnam via programmes initiated by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)department, credit for export programme and annual activities of the TradeEnvoy to Vietnam.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong andrepresentatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s ForeignInvestment Agency and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry talked aboutspecific business opportunities in Vietnam.
On the evening the same day, Deputy PM Minh attended aceremony celebrating the 45th anniversary of Vietnam – UK diplomaticties.
Speaking at the event, he spoke highly of gigantic progressin bilateral ties over the past 45 years, especially since the establishment ofstrategic partnership in 2010.
He said political trust has been strengthened via meetingsbetween leaders of ministries and agencies, joint work at regional and globalforums. Two-way trade hit 6 billion USD last year while people-to-peopleexchange has been increased via education and humanitarian activities, and tourism.
At present, there are some 120,000 Vietnamese studentspursuing education in the UK. The number of visitors from the UK to Vietnamrises over years, amounting to more than 300,000 last year.
Each year, doctors from the Facing the World organisationconducts free facial surgeries to Vietnamese children. The UK also assistedVietnam in the hand-over of field hospital in South Sudan within the frameworkof the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.
The Vietnamese official said Vietnam welcomes the Vision “GlobalUK” and called on the UK to make positive contributions to peace, stability,cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific.
In his speech, Minister of State for the Foreign andCommonwealth Office Mark Field hailed Vietnam’s improving stature in the regionand believed that ties between both sides will thrive in the near future.
On the occasion, Minh presented friendship orders and medalsto several UK individuals in recognition of their contributions to bilateralfriendship.
Earlier the same day, Minh held meetings with Secretary ofState for International Trade Liam Fox, Lord Astor, Minister for the CabinetOffice David Lidington, and representatives from several UK firms.-VNA
They said fine bilateral relations over the past 45 yearshave laid an important foundation to further strengthen their strategicpartnership, which was established in 2010.
Speaking highly of the outcomes of strategic dialogue ondiplomacy, national defence-security in Hanoi in January 2018, both sides vowedto work closely together at multilateral forums, especially the United Nationsand the Asia-Europe Meeting.
On trade-investment, they welcomed the possibility of acceleratingnegotiations on Vietnam – UK Free Trade Agreement in order to enhance bilateraltrade and investment after the UK leaves the EU.
Hunt also promised to push forward the signing andratification of the EU – Vietnam FTA.
About the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed with theprinciple of settling disputes by peaceful means in line with internationallaw, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The UK side highlighted support for law abidance, security,safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters andoceans.
Meeting Prince Andrew, Duke of York at Buckingham Palace onOctober 9, Minh expressed his honour to visit the UK on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and wished that the British Royalwould continue backing Vietnam – UK strategic partnership.
He suggested that the Prince, with his prestige andinfluence, calls for UK investment in Vietnam, especially in start-ups andinnovation.
Andrew, for his part, said he holds special sentiment towardsVietnam and its people and wished that the Vietnamese government would offerall possible support to UK investors to do business in the country as potentialof bilateral collaboration remains huge.
He expressed his readiness to help the two nations’ firms shareinformation and assist Vietnam in building start-up ecosystem and trainingworkforce in high technology.
On the occasion, Deputy PM Minh presented Friendship Order toPrince Andrew in honour of his contributions to Vietnam – UK ties.
During a conversation with Lord Fowler, Speaker of the Houseof Lords, Minh said Vietnam always highly values the strengthening of strategicpartnership with the UK, with cooperation between the two legislatures as animportant channel.
He asked the two countries’ legislatures and lawmakers tofoster bilateral and multilateral collaboration, increase the exchange ofdelegations and meetings on the sidelines of important multilateral parliamentaryforums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Fowler affirmed that the House of Lords will back the reinforcementof the extensive development of Vietnam – UK relations for prosperity of eachcountry and benefits of their people.
Speaking at the Vietnam – UK Economic Forum that attractedover 200 leading UK and Vietnamese firms on October 9 afternoon, Minh affirmedthat Vietnam considers the development of trade and investment with the UK apillar in bilateral strategic partnership.
He highlighted Vietnam’s advantages such as a huge market,high-quality workforce, constructive government, global integration with 16FTAs which are already in force and under negotiation, digital infrastructureready for the fourth industrial revolution and start-ups.
Ed Vaizey, Minister of State at the Department for Business,Innovation and Skills and UK Prime Minister’s Envoy of Trade to Vietnam, hailedVietnam as a promising market and a gateway for UK firms to access ASEAN andother markets via a series of FTAs.
He encouraged UK firms to seek business opportunities inVietnam in the fields of finance, infrastructure, health care, innovation and education,affirming that the UK government always helps enterprises increase investmentin Vietnam via programmes initiated by the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)department, credit for export programme and annual activities of the TradeEnvoy to Vietnam.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong andrepresentatives from the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s ForeignInvestment Agency and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry talked aboutspecific business opportunities in Vietnam.
On the evening the same day, Deputy PM Minh attended aceremony celebrating the 45th anniversary of Vietnam – UK diplomaticties.
Speaking at the event, he spoke highly of gigantic progressin bilateral ties over the past 45 years, especially since the establishment ofstrategic partnership in 2010.
He said political trust has been strengthened via meetingsbetween leaders of ministries and agencies, joint work at regional and globalforums. Two-way trade hit 6 billion USD last year while people-to-peopleexchange has been increased via education and humanitarian activities, and tourism.
At present, there are some 120,000 Vietnamese studentspursuing education in the UK. The number of visitors from the UK to Vietnamrises over years, amounting to more than 300,000 last year.
Each year, doctors from the Facing the World organisationconducts free facial surgeries to Vietnamese children. The UK also assistedVietnam in the hand-over of field hospital in South Sudan within the frameworkof the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission.
The Vietnamese official said Vietnam welcomes the Vision “GlobalUK” and called on the UK to make positive contributions to peace, stability,cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific.
In his speech, Minister of State for the Foreign andCommonwealth Office Mark Field hailed Vietnam’s improving stature in the regionand believed that ties between both sides will thrive in the near future.
On the occasion, Minh presented friendship orders and medalsto several UK individuals in recognition of their contributions to bilateralfriendship.
Earlier the same day, Minh held meetings with Secretary ofState for International Trade Liam Fox, Lord Astor, Minister for the CabinetOffice David Lidington, and representatives from several UK firms.-VNA
VNA
