Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can (R) hosts UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Directorof the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can and UK Ambassadorto Vietnam Giles Lever have agreed to strengthen the Vietnam-UK customspartnership through the signing of a letter of intent on possibilities ofcooperation, heading to a governmental-level deal in the field.
The agreement wasreached at a meeting of Can and the UK diplomat as well as UK customsrepresentatives in Asia in Hanoi in early May, according to the GeneralDepartment of Vietnam Customs.
The deal is expectedto focus on affiliation in facilitating trade, preventing smuggling andillegally transportation of drugs, wine, cigarette, banned goods, wild animals,as well as in developing human resources, providing technical support, andsharing information and experience.
The two sides concurredto implement a project to assist Vietnam Customs.
Steve Wood, UK customsofficial for Asia region, said that the project will provide Vietnam withinformation, experience, human resources training, as well as evaluation onworld criminal trends related to land and sea borders, aviation and inSoutheast Asia and Asia-Pacific region that relate to Vietnam, while introducingnew measures and equipment serving the detection and fight of customs-relatedcrimes.
At the meeting, thetwo sides also discussed preparations for a UK visit of the General Departmentof Vietnam Customs’ Director in August, during which both sides will officiallyexchange ideas on the possibility of signing a cooperation deal.
The UK ambassador alsosuggested cooperation with Vietnam in implementing a UK’s programme tofacilitate global trade.-VNA
VNA
