Viet Nam, UK look to further deepen bilateral ties

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung helds online talks with Nigel Adams, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development of the UK, July 16

The two officials expressed their delight at the strong development of Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership since its establishment 10 years ago, voicing their belief that the bilateral ties will continue to thrive in the near future.

Deputy FM Dung praised the UK Government’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and its initiatives to promote international health cooperation, and affirmed that Viet Nam is willing to work closely with the UK in those efforts.

He welcomed the UK’s decision to put Viet Nam in the list of countries exempt from UK travel quarantine, and proposed that the two countries continue assisting each other in citizen protection.

The Deputy FM affirmed that Vietnam facilitates the entry of foreign diplomats, investors, experts, managers and skilled labourers, including those from the UK, to work in Viet Nam.

Nigel Adams appreciated Viet Nam’s medical capacity in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanked Vietnamese agencies, doctors and nurses for their care for UK citizens infected with the coronavirus.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership (2010-2020), Nigel Adams noted his hope to further deepen bilateral relations in the fields of shared interests such as trade, investment, politics, national defence, security, health, education, science-technology, renewable energy and response to climate change.

Deputy FM Dung shared the wish, suggesting that the two sides maintain their current cooperative mechanisms, including the strategic partnership at the deputy foreign ministerial level, and actively hold talks towards the early signing of a bilateral free trade agreement.

Adams said the UK values Viet Nam’s role in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, especially in the context of the country concurrently serving as Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

He affirmed that the UK is willing to cooperate and coordinate closely with Viet Nam in multilateral frameworks, adding that the UK supports the maintenance of peace and stability, and advocates the adherence to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the East Sea.

The Vietnamese official appreciated coordination between the two countries in issues related to peace, security and development, urging the UK to continue supporting and sharing experience with Viet Nam in the UN Security Council.

He reiterated that Viet Nam welcomes countries’ active and constructive efforts to contribute to maintaining peace and stability, and upholding international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the East Sea.

As Chair of ASEAN, Viet Nam supports outside partners, including the UK, in boosting cooperation with ASEAN for common interests, thus contributing to promoting the trend of trade liberalization, multilateral cooperation and compliance with international law in the region and the world, Dung emphasized.

     By Vien Nhu