Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (behind, centre) witnesses the exchange of cooperation agreements between businesses and localities of Vietnam and the UK at a high-level forum on economy and trade between the two countries in London in June 2022. (Photo: VNA) In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam,Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said thatsince the two countries set up diplomatic ties on September 11, 1973, the relations have continued to develop to the great benefit of both sides.
In 2010, the two nations elevated their ties to a strategic partnership – ahigh level in international relations, showing the importance of the bilateral tiesto both countries in terms of security and prosperity.
In 2020, the two sides issued a new joint statement affirmingthat they will outline directions for the development of the bilateral ties in thefollowing 10 years with the hope of elevating the relations to a new level. Afterthat, the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) was signed in London inlate 2020 and officially came into force on May 1, 2021, he noted.
Lam went on to say that in the recent past, cooperation betweenVietnam and the UK has been enhanced comprehensively in both bilateral andmultilateral aspects and recorded outstanding achievements in all fields.
Interms of politics and diplomacy, they have increased opinion sharing and cooperationat the ministerial and senior official levels between their governmentagencies, while boosting exchanges between the parliaments, politicalparties, local administrations, and people.
Regardingeconomic affairs, Vietnam is among the few Asian partners who have signed anFTA with the UK. In 2022, bilateral trade reached 6.84 billion USD, comprising6.07 billion USD worth of Vietnamese exports and 771 million USD worth of imports fromthe UK, he elaborated.
Addressingthe symposium, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew expressed his delight thatthe two countries have managed to foster their partnership, including inclimate change response and environmental protection, amid global challenges.
Talking about the prospects of the bilateral relations, he said theUK is exerting efforts to further intensify the partnership with Vietnam, andits goal in Vietnam is to continue strengthening their close-knit connections.
Both sides have obtained numerous achievements in recent years,and those achievements have laid a stepping stone for future successes, the ambassador added.
Atthe event, participants, including scientists, discussed the relations over the last 50 years, highlighted milestones, and identifiedopportunities, potential and prospects of the bilateral ties for the time to come.
Theyalso gave some proposals for enhancing the links between the two countries,including the cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politicsand the UK Embassy in Vietnam./.
Talking about the prospects of the bilateral relations, he said theUK is exerting efforts to further intensify the partnership with Vietnam, andits goal in Vietnam is to continue strengthening their close-knit connections.
Both sides have obtained numerous achievements in recent years,and those achievements have laid a stepping stone for future successes, the ambassador added.
Atthe event, participants, including scientists, discussed the relations over the last 50 years, highlighted milestones, and identifiedopportunities, potential and prospects of the bilateral ties for the time to come.
Theyalso gave some proposals for enhancing the links between the two countries,including the cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politicsand the UK Embassy in Vietnam./.
VNA
