Meet the UK 2019 connects Vietnam, UK together
Hanoi (VNA) –
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, the UK Embassy in Vietnam and the British
Business Group in Vietnam held “Meet the UK 2019” event in Hanoi on November
28.
The event aimed to create a venue for Vietnamese ministries,
agencies and localities to connect with UK businesses and organisations to
discuss policies and demand for cooperation, as well as to propose solutions to
promote result-oriented partnership, thus contributing to deepening the Vietnam
– UK strategic partnership in the near future.
Speaking at the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui
Thanh Son said the Vietnam – UK strategic partnership has been growing strongly
across politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, sustainable socio-economic
development, education, national defence-security, and people-to-people
exchange. Last year, the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Son highlighted that economic and development cooperation is
the pillar of the Vietnam-UK strategic partner.
The UK is now the second largest European investor in Vietnam with a
total registered capital of 3.6 billion USD as of October 2019, and the third
largest European trade partner of Vietnam with two-way trade reaching 5.5
billion USD in 10 months of this year, up 3.5 percent year-on-year.
Both sides are engaging in informal discussion on negotiating
a bilateral free trade agreement after the UK leaves the European Union, he
said.
The Deputy FM added that Vietnam highly values the UK’s
support for the country to access assistance development funds for
middle-income countries such as Prosperity Fund and Newton Fund.
The Vietnamese government is striving to improve business
climate, attract European and UK firms to do effective and long-term business
in Vietnam, he said.
Education is another important aspect in the bilateral
strategic partnership. Son noted that over 12,000 Vietnamese students are
studying in the UK or under 36 joint education programmes between the two
countries. The number of UK tourist arrivals in Vietnam has increased over
years, reaching nearly 300,000 last year and 262,000 in 10 months of this year.
Localities of both countries are actively seeking investment
and tourism ties, with many promotion events held to link Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
City, Quang Ninh, Dak Lak, Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Quang Ngai, Bac Ninh, Son
La with UK localities such as London, Scotland, Aberdeen and the northwest
region.
UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said Vietnam and the UK
will celebrate the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic
partnership, which will be an important milestone in bilateral ties.
He shared the UK’s priorities in the economic field amid the
fourth industrial revolution, which he said offer opportunities for the two
countries to work together in clean energy development, health care and
transportation.
Over 700 delegates heard discussions on boosting bilateral
ties across technology, innovation, education, environment and tourism.
Localities also took the occasion to introduce themselves to
UK partners via meetings with the ambassador and leaders of UK organisations
and businesses, and stalls showcasing various documents and products.
“Meet the UK” is part of the Foreign Ministry’s regular
events to connect localities with important partners around the world./.