National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a meeting in Hanoi on April 1 with a UK parliamentary delegation led by Alistair Burt, during which she expressed her delight at the growing relations between the two countries across all sectors.

Along with organising meetings among top leaders, both sides have strengthened political and economic consultations and dialogues, promoting mutual understanding and trust as well as bilateral cooperation, she said.

She noted the economic partnership is growing, with trade reaching 4.3 billion USD in 2014. However, the figure between the two countries has yet to reach its potential, she asserted.

Both sides have striven to increase education collaboration by setting up a Vietnam-UK University which is expected to become operational shortly, she said, adding that she hopes the UK will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese students in the country and grant more scholarship to Vietnamese students.

She proposed Vietnam and the UK continue their close coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially at the United Nations, Asia-Europe Meetings, and ASEAN-EU cooperative efforts.

Vietnam appreciates the UK Parliament’s approval of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU, she stated, expressing her hope that the UK Parliament would continue supporting Vietnam ’s all-round ties with the union.

The NA Vice Chairwoman also voiced her wish that the UK Parliament would push the EU’s approval of the PCA as well as the finalisation and signing of a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement and recognising Vietnam ’s market economy.

For his part, Burt lauded Vietnam ’s successful hosting of the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

He held that Vietnam is on a rapid development trend that is set to continue reaping achievements.

He said he hopes both sides would foster their cooperation in the fields of finance, science-technology, education and culture.-VNA