The third Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue took place in London on October 22, in the framework of the strategic partnership and the 2013 action plan between the two sides.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire co-chaired the event.

In an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding, the two sides compared views on bilateral and regional issues, global challenges such as climate change, organised crimes and illegal migration.

The two sides agreed that the Vietnam-UK relations are developing positively in all fields of priorities within the framework of the Strategic Partnership.

They were satisfied to see the high growth of trade and investment ties, expected to reach the targets of 4 billion USD in two-way trade and 3 billion USD in UK ’s investment in Vietnam in 2013.

Vietnam affirmed it will continue with efforts to improve the investment environment, thus creating favourable conditions for UK enterprises to do long-term and effective business in the country.

The UK side said it hopes Vietnamese businesses will pay more attention to and expand their operation to the UK , which boasts many investment opportunities in such sectors as infrastructure and energy.

The Vietnamese side asked the UK to continue prioritising Vietnam as a recipient of its official development assistance after 2016.

Regarding education and training, the two sides welcomed the establishment of the Vietnam-UK Training and Research Institute at the Da Nang University as the first step of the project to set up the Vietnam-UK University in Vietnam ’s central city of Da Nang .

The two sides were also glad to see the positive developments in defence cooperation, especially the UK ’s appointment of a resident defence attache to Vietnam.

The UK side said it is willing to help Vietnam in joining the UN peacekeeping activities.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation to cope with global threats, including the fight against organised crime and illegal migration, as well as in anti-terrorism experience sharing.

Regarding regional issues, the two sides exchanged views on the situations in the East Sea , the Korean peninsula and Syria .

They pledged to strengthen cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations.

The two sides reaffirmed their support to principle of resolving international disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law.

They also stressed the increasingly important role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the region, the importance of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea between ASEAN and China and welcomed steps towards the building of the Code of Conduct, creating a legal basis for the management and adjustment of the conducts of concerned parties in the East Sea.

The two sides issued a communique on the third Vietnam-UK strategic dialogue.

During his stay in the UK, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with Prince Andrew, Duke of York; the executive board of the Vietnam-UK Network and had a working session with the Royal Institute for Defence and Security Studies.-VNA