National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) at a meeting with Kenneth Atkinson, head of the British Business Group in Vietnam (Britcham), and representatives of British groups and investment funds operating in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA) At a meeting in London on June 30 withKenneth Atkinson, head of the British Business Group in Vietnam (Britcham), andrepresentatives of British groups and investment funds operating in Vietnam,Hue affirmed that the relationship between Vietnam and the UK is at an all-timehigh.
He believed the UK will continue to elevate its role andposition in terms of economy, trade and investment in Asia-Pacific, includingthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam.
The NA Chairman said two-way trade has reached 6-7billion USD per year, but there remains huge room for the countries to boosttrade.
Hue expressed his hope that Britcham will furtheraffirm its role in attracting and guiding British businesses in Vietnam, whileintensifying its consultation and policy support for these firms.
The Vietnamese legislature, government, ministries,agencies and localities are willing to work to improve the investment andbusiness environment for both domestic and foreign enterprises, he pledged.
Vietnam also wishes to enhance its connectivity withthe network of initiatives to help the NA and Government consolidateinstitutions and policies, he continued.
He suggested NA agencies coordinate with Britcham toorganise dialogues with businesses, thus removing bottlenecks and improving corporate governance capacity, contributing to raising national governance in a win-win spirit.
Atkinson said British firms are employing thousandsof Vietnamese labourers, creating export revenue of millions of US dollars andcontributing to Vietnam’s finance and education sectors.
Vietnam and the UK can join hands to address globalchallenges like climate change, inequality and renewable energy development, headded.
Representatives of the British enterprises expressedtheir wish to contribute to Vietnam’s efforts in handling these challenges.
The same day, Hue met with Professor Maggie Dallman,Vice President of International at Imperial College London, one of the top tenleading universities in the world.
Briefing the NA Chairman on the university’soperations, Dallman said many international students of Imperial College London,including those from Vietnam, have reaped good results.
Stressing the significance of educational cooperationbetween Vietnam and the UK, she suggested the two sides co-finance jointresearch studies, and expressed her hope that there will be more Vietnamesestudents at the university.
The British government can finance the study of ImperialCollege London students in Vietnam, she said, suggesting the two countriescooperate in doctoral training.
Hue also emphasised that cooperation in education andtechnology is a pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership, and 12,000 Vietnamesestudents in the UK can meet the demand for high-quality personnel of the twocountries.
He asked Imperial College London to coordinateclosely with the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK as well as Vietnamese partners toboost the educational ties, and welcomed Dallman to visit Vietnam soon./.
VNA
