Deputy PM meets with UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received visiting Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Neville Rolfe in Hanoi on September 23.

He voiced delight at the vigorous growth of the nations’ strategic partnership, which provides a favourable foundation for them to expand connections across the broad.

He emphasised that the UK is one of critical economic partner of Vietnam, and his country pledges the best possible conditions for British companies and investors’ effective and long-term operations here.

The official also pinned hope on the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement which will boost economic links between the two sides, and between the Southeast Asian and the UK specifically, once it takes effect.

Phuc applauded the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the Newton Programme Vietnam between the British Council and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, adding that the move will help both sides intensify research partnership.

He suggested furthering collaboration in intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement as well as facilitating joint projects between their universities and research centres.

For her part, Neville Rolfe said her delegation had working session with several Vietnamese ministries and sectors to bolster collaboration in science-technology, counterfeit goods prevention and consumer protection.

She also highlighted the UK’s willingness to cooperate and share experiences with Vietnam in enhancing IP rights protection capacity and developing education and training.-VNA