Vietnam and the United Kingdoms are speeding up negotiations on a new-generation free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides, which is expected to be completed at the year’s end.
The first dialogue between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the UK was held via video conference on October 1 with the theme of “cooperation in green economic development post-COVID-19”.
Vietnam and the UK issued a “Joint Declaration on the Vietnam - UK Strategic Partnership: Forging Ahead for Another 10 Years” after the talks in Hanoi on September 30 between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and UK First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Rabb. Following is the full text of the joint declaration.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab in Hanoi on September 30, during which they agreed on joint efforts towards a higher level of the bilateral strategic partnership.
Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung held online talks with Nigel Adams, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development of the UK, on July 16.
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.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had separate meetings with leaders of Laos, Cambodia, China and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with Prince Andrew Albert Christian Edward of the UK in Bangkok on November 3.
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 14 for outgoing UK defence attaché Col. David Houghton and his successor Col. Beatrix V.H. Walcot.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac paid a working trip to the UK from September 25 – October 2.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific of the Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and North Ireland Mark Field in Hanoi on January 2.
Minister of Public Security, Sen. Lt. Gen. To Lam met with UK Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes and Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field in London on November 22, as part of his visit to the country at the invitation of UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
Vietnam backs the proposal to negotiate a Vietnam- United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said while receiving UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward in Hanoi on October 26.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt agreed to offer mutual consultations on regional and global issues of shared concern during their talks in London on October 10.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung called on businesses from the UK to make investment in Vietnam during a reception for Lord James Mayer Sassoon, Executive Director of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, in Hanoi on January 17.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh reiterated Vietnam’s wish to strengthen ties with the UK, the US and Brazil during his separate meetings with the foreign ministers of the countries in Bonn, Germany, on February 17.
Ho Chi Minh City is resolved to improve its investment environment and create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from the UK, to do long-term business in the city.
Vietnam has made effort in protecting wildlife and its intensified law enforcement against traffickers is likely to make the country a role model in the field, said UK Prince William.
The UK intends to deepen relationship with countries across the globe and Vietnam plays an important role in that strategy, said Eleanor Laing, Vice Speaker of the House of Commons of the UK.
Vietnam wishes to learn from London’s experience in building a municipal council, the roles played by the municipal council and administration as well as links between them.
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