Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 24 for Thomas Mitchell Little, President and CEO of UK-based Jadestone Energy Plc, who will oversee his company’s operations in Vietnam.
Hang reaffirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its Strategic Partnership with the UK and highly values the robust development of bilateral ties, especially since the two countries issued a Joint Statement marking the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership (2010–2020), with a shared vision to further elevate relations in the coming decade.
She noted that bilateral trade between Vietnam and the UK reached 8.5 billion USD in 2024, up 18% from 2023. In the first half of 2025 alone, the trade volume exceeded 4.3 billion USD, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 10%. The UK currently has 587 valid investment projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of nearly 4.5 billion USD, ranking 15th among the 150 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
Mitchell expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Government for its continued support and facilitation of Jadestone’s operations, affirming that Vietnam is a strategic market in the Asia-Pacific, with significant potential for natural gas development. He also provided updates on the progress of the company’s projects at the Nam Du and U Minh gas fields and expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation with Vietnamese partners in the future.
Hang welcomed the company’s business plans in Vietnam and reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Government encourages capable and experienced foreign enterprises to run long-term, stable operations in the country, particularly in energy infrastructure.
She stressed that the Government will continue to create favorable conditions for foreign investors, including Jadestone Energy Plc, to operate efficiently and sustainably in Vietnam./.
VNA
