Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, the UK Embassy in Vietnam and the BritishBusiness Group in Vietnam held “Meet the UK 2019” event in Hanoi on November28.
The event aimed to create a venue for Vietnamese ministries,agencies and localities to connect with UK businesses and organisations todiscuss policies and demand for cooperation, as well as to propose solutions topromote result-oriented partnership, thus contributing to deepening the Vietnam– UK strategic partnership in the near future.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister BuiThanh Son said the Vietnam – UK strategic partnership has been growing stronglyacross politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, sustainable socio-economicdevelopment, education, national defence-security, and people-to-peopleexchange. Last year, the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Son highlighted that economic and development cooperation isthe pillar of the Vietnam-UK strategic partner. The UK is now the second largest European investor in Vietnam with atotal registered capital of 3.6 billion USD as of October 2019, and the thirdlargest European trade partner of Vietnam with two-way trade reaching 5.5billion USD in 10 months of this year, up 3.5 percent year-on-year.
Both sides are engaging in informal discussion on negotiatinga bilateral free trade agreement after the UK leaves the European Union, hesaid.
The Deputy FM added that Vietnam highly values the UK’ssupport for the country to access assistance development funds formiddle-income countries such as Prosperity Fund and Newton Fund.
The Vietnamese government is striving to improve businessclimate, attract European and UK firms to do effective and long-term businessin Vietnam, he said.
Education is another important aspect in the bilateralstrategic partnership. Son noted that over 12,000 Vietnamese students arestudying in the UK or under 36 joint education programmes between the twocountries. The number of UK tourist arrivals in Vietnam has increased overyears, reaching nearly 300,000 last year and 262,000 in 10 months of this year.
Localities of both countries are actively seeking investmentand tourism ties, with many promotion events held to link Hanoi, Ho Chi MinhCity, Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Quang Ngai, Bac Ninh, SonLa with UK localities such as London, Scotland, Aberdeen and the northwestregion.
UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said Vietnam and the UKwill celebrate the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategicpartnership, which will be an important milestone in bilateral ties.
He shared the UK’s priorities in the economic field amid thefourth industrial revolution, which he said offer opportunities for the twocountries to work together in clean energy development, health care andtransportation.
Over 700 delegates heard discussions on boosting bilateralties across technology, innovation, education, environment and tourism.
Localities also took the occasion to introduce themselves toUK partners via meetings with the ambassador and leaders of UK organisationsand businesses, and stalls showcasing various documents and products.
“Meet the UK” is part of the Foreign Ministry’s regularevents to connect localities with important partners around the world./.
