Vietnamese high-quality rice enjoys zero tariff in the UK market under the UKVFTA. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Industry andTrade Dang Hoang An recently had a working session with UK Ambassador toVietnam Gareth Ward to discuss bilateral cooperation in trade and energy.
Both sides said with delight that the UK-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (UKVFTA), which took effect on January 1, will create a new drivingforce to lift bilateral trade and investment ties.
Last year, two-way trade hit 5.6 billion USD despite theCOVID-19 impact, 4.95 billion USD of which was Vietnam’s export. The UKremained the third biggest export market of Vietnam in Europe.
In the near future, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) andthe UK Embassy in Vietnam will continue working closely together to effectivelyrealise the UKVFTA and further improve bilateral trade.
Both sides still maintained the plan to organise the 12thmeeting of the Vietnam – UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO 12) inthe UK when the pandemic is under control.
Before the meeting, a series of meetings, seminars anddialogues will be held virtually to tackle difficulties in specific areas.
As scheduled in mid-March, JETCO co-chairs Deputy MinisterAn and UK Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands will hold an onlineworking session to discuss JETCO 12 implementation and bilateral cooperationplan for the future.
The UK side also wished to hold online dialogues with theMoIT to discuss renewable energy development scheduled for February 24 andearly March.
For his part, An took the occasion to highly valued the UK’s commitment inhosting the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which is slated forNovember this year in Glasgow, Scotland.
A plan for renewable energy development was an importantcontent in the Politburo's Resolution 55-NQ TW issued on February last year onthe orientation of the National Energy Development Strategy to 2030, with avision to 2045, he added.
Vietnam aims to ensure an adequate energy supply forsocio-economic development and gradually increase the proportion of cleanenergy use in its energy structure, An said.
The Vietnamese deputy minister stressed the MoIT backs theUK’s efforts in organising the above-mentioned events and dialogues.
Concluding the meeting, the sides agreed to continuestudying measures for development cooperation in renewable energy. The MoITsaid it is ready to collaborate with and support Vietnamese and UK relevant agenciesand firms to hold discussions when necessary./.
VNA
