Speakers from the British Museum and Library showed visitors to historical documents proving that the Vietnam-UK trade relationship was formed 350 years before the two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1973. Among the items were two letters, one by Lord Trinh Tac sent in 1673 to William Gyfford, head of a delegation from the British Government’s British East India Company when the group came to establish diplomatic relations, and the other by Emperor Canh Thinh dated 1793 which was delivered to Special Envoy George Macartney, head of the British diplomatic mission.
They also presented the Vietnamese collection kept at the library, including nine Nom manuscripts dating back to the period between the 17th and 20th century.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long informed participants of activities to be held across the UK by the embassy for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations this year./.
