
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Ministerand Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting with the Duke of York, PrinceAndrew, in Hanoi on December 4, expressing his belief that the guest’s visitwill create new momentum for Vietnam and UK to optimize their complementaryadvantages.
Prince Andrew paid an official visit to Vietnamfrom December 2 to 4 at the invitation of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Minhon the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations.
Minh applauded the success of the Pitch@Palaceentrepreneurship promotion event held by the Prince and British firms in Ho ChiMinh City on December 3.
To further strengthen bilateral ties, he askedthe British royal family and Prince Andrew to encourage UK businesses to investmore in Vietnam, develop a Vietnam-UK university in Da Nang city, and step upcooperation in finance, education-training, science-technology, startup, andinnovation.
The official also asked the Pitch@Palaceorganising board to work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Science andTechnology to continue implementing relevant activities in the time to come.
For his part, Prince Andrew said he has specialsentiment towards Vietnam, and this was his seventh visit to the country.
He also asked Vietnam to continue optimalconditions for UK investors to do long-term business and assist the twocountries’ companies to share information and partner with each other.
He highly valued bilateral collaboration ineducation, health care, tourism and United Nations peacekeeping activities, andat international organisations and forums.
The Prince also highlighted the potential forthe countries’ cooperation in various fields, especially entrepreneurship andinnovation.
After the meeting, Deputy PM and ForeignMinister Minh and Prince Andrew witnessed the signing of two memoranda ofcooperation between the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s Department of ForeignAffairs of Localities and the British Business Group Vietnam and the BritishUniversity Vietnam.-VNA