The United Kingdom (UK) wants the strategic partnership with Vietnamnot to be a peak, but a foundation for building something much greater.
Ambassador Antony Stokes stressed the point in anexclusive interview with the Vietnam Government Portal's reporter on theoccasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnamand the UK.
Following is the full text of the interview.
What is your assessment of the UK – Vietnam relations over thepast 40 years and especially after the two countries signed theStrategic Partnership Agreement in 2010?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Today, our relations are stronger than they have ever been.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement reflects a new approach to therelationship between our two governments. Our large-scale aid programmewill end in 2016, and in its place we are building a broader, deeperpartnership. Education, business, diplomacy, science and innovation,security and defence are all important parts of this.
Forexample, we have begun to engage on public finance management, and havebecome the first European country to sign an agreement in this area withthe Finance Ministry. We have started projects on science, such as arice genome project with the Ministry of Science and Technology. We arenow also engaging on defence, and signed a first agreement with theDefence Ministry.
This is ambitious, particularly so at adifficult economic period. But we want the Strategic Partnership not tobe a peak, but to be a foundation for building something much greater.William Hague confirmed this approach when, last year, he became thefirst UK Foreign Secretary [Foreign Minister] to visit Vietnam since1994, signaling our new commitment.
What is the potential for further development of the bilateral relations?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Foreign Secretary described Vietnam’spotential as “colossal”, and the same can be said for the potential ofour bilateral relations. You can see this from the expansion of ouragenda into new areas. But we are also determined to accelerate ourexisting cooperation.
For example, the trade in goods andservices between us is a long way below its potential. The StrategicPartnership Agreement sets a target of doubling trade to 4 billion USDand UK direct investment into Vietnam to 3 billion USD by 2013. Wepassed these targets about a year ahead of schedule. We should go muchfurther.
Our Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord StephenGreen, here in Vietnam in June, told Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungthat UK companies are keen to work with the Vietnamese authorities andindustry on large-scale projects, such as the new urban railway system,the Central Business District and an international hub airport in HoChi Minh City.
Prime Minister Dung expressed Vietnam’sinterest in learning from the spectacular London 2012 Olympic andParalympic Games, as Hanoi prepares to host the Asian Games in 2019.So we are working on an agreement to share our skills and experience.
Another good example is education: a core area of the strategicpartnership. World-leading British education can help Vietnam meetthe challenges it faces. One way is through the establishment of a newtype of University, in Da Nang. This joint government initiative aimsto create an international standard research and teaching facility,through collaboration with British institutions like Aston Universityand with commercial partners. The British Council is also expanding,including examinations and new English language schools in Hanoi and HoChi Minh City.
We also want closer and bolder dialogue betweenthe two governments to drive this broad agenda. This includes morehigh-level visits as well as a formal Strategic Dialogue. Vice ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son will be in London in October to take thatforward.
The UK is one of the international donors toVietnam. What is the British Government’s plan of providing ODA toVietnam in the coming years?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: You must be proud of Vietnam’s success in pulling so many millions of people out of poverty.
In a modest way, Britain is also proud to have played a minorsupporting role. We were Europe’s largest donor and our focus has beento help Vietnam achieve the Millennium Development Goals, such asprimary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural water and sanitationimprovement, and rural transport. We do not tie our aid to commercialbenefits.
Recently, as Vietnam has become more prosperous,we have shifted our support towards initiatives which help tackleclimate change, enhance job creation through the private sector, anddeliver improved governance, particularly assisting the Government’sfight against corruption, on which we are the lead donor. We have alsowidened our partnership, working with not only the Government but alsothe National Assembly, the private sector, and the civil society.
We aim to continue building a partnership across these areas beyond2016, through the British Embassy. In addition, we will continue toprovide funding for example through NGOs and global funds focusing onclimate change or mine clearance.
What are the highlights ofthe programme to celebrate the 40th anniversary of UK –Vietnamdiplomatic relations in 2013?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Theprogramme had a remarkable beginning. Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit toLondon in January was the first by a General Secretary of the CommunistParty at the invitation of our Prime Minister David Cameron.
This was followed by a visit to Vietnam by British Minister of DefenceLord Astor. In November we will appoint Britain’s first residentDefence attaché to Vietnam. We will mark this new defence relationshipwith a visit in December by the Royal Navy ship HMS Daring to Ho ChiMinh City, drawing the year’s programme to a dramatic end
The programme of celebration also includes music, design, fashion, film and sport.
For example, Vietnamese fashion designer Cong Tri presented acollection during London Fashion Week in February and the VietnameseEmbassy later showcased his work over a week at the Southbank inLondon in June.
Arsenal made history by being the first English Premier League team to play in Vietnam in July.
And last week we brought another British sport to Hanoi, when Iattended the Olympic Legacy International Friendship Rugby match.
Later this month “GREAT week” will highlight creative industries,food, drink and education, and provide a platform for British companiesto build solid business relationships with Vietnamese partners.
“GREAT” Week will feature events in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi MinhCity, including a series of cultural activities and exhibitions.
There is a lot going on, and you can read more about all this on theEmbassy’s Facebook . I hope you join us in celebrating 40 years ofbilateral relations, and a bolder, brighter future.-VNA
Ambassador Antony Stokes stressed the point in anexclusive interview with the Vietnam Government Portal's reporter on theoccasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnamand the UK.
Following is the full text of the interview.
What is your assessment of the UK – Vietnam relations over thepast 40 years and especially after the two countries signed theStrategic Partnership Agreement in 2010?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Today, our relations are stronger than they have ever been.
The Strategic Partnership Agreement reflects a new approach to therelationship between our two governments. Our large-scale aid programmewill end in 2016, and in its place we are building a broader, deeperpartnership. Education, business, diplomacy, science and innovation,security and defence are all important parts of this.
Forexample, we have begun to engage on public finance management, and havebecome the first European country to sign an agreement in this area withthe Finance Ministry. We have started projects on science, such as arice genome project with the Ministry of Science and Technology. We arenow also engaging on defence, and signed a first agreement with theDefence Ministry.
This is ambitious, particularly so at adifficult economic period. But we want the Strategic Partnership not tobe a peak, but to be a foundation for building something much greater.William Hague confirmed this approach when, last year, he became thefirst UK Foreign Secretary [Foreign Minister] to visit Vietnam since1994, signaling our new commitment.
What is the potential for further development of the bilateral relations?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Foreign Secretary described Vietnam’spotential as “colossal”, and the same can be said for the potential ofour bilateral relations. You can see this from the expansion of ouragenda into new areas. But we are also determined to accelerate ourexisting cooperation.
For example, the trade in goods andservices between us is a long way below its potential. The StrategicPartnership Agreement sets a target of doubling trade to 4 billion USDand UK direct investment into Vietnam to 3 billion USD by 2013. Wepassed these targets about a year ahead of schedule. We should go muchfurther.
Our Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord StephenGreen, here in Vietnam in June, told Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungthat UK companies are keen to work with the Vietnamese authorities andindustry on large-scale projects, such as the new urban railway system,the Central Business District and an international hub airport in HoChi Minh City.
Prime Minister Dung expressed Vietnam’sinterest in learning from the spectacular London 2012 Olympic andParalympic Games, as Hanoi prepares to host the Asian Games in 2019.So we are working on an agreement to share our skills and experience.
Another good example is education: a core area of the strategicpartnership. World-leading British education can help Vietnam meetthe challenges it faces. One way is through the establishment of a newtype of University, in Da Nang. This joint government initiative aimsto create an international standard research and teaching facility,through collaboration with British institutions like Aston Universityand with commercial partners. The British Council is also expanding,including examinations and new English language schools in Hanoi and HoChi Minh City.
We also want closer and bolder dialogue betweenthe two governments to drive this broad agenda. This includes morehigh-level visits as well as a formal Strategic Dialogue. Vice ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son will be in London in October to take thatforward.
The UK is one of the international donors toVietnam. What is the British Government’s plan of providing ODA toVietnam in the coming years?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: You must be proud of Vietnam’s success in pulling so many millions of people out of poverty.
In a modest way, Britain is also proud to have played a minorsupporting role. We were Europe’s largest donor and our focus has beento help Vietnam achieve the Millennium Development Goals, such asprimary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural water and sanitationimprovement, and rural transport. We do not tie our aid to commercialbenefits.
Recently, as Vietnam has become more prosperous,we have shifted our support towards initiatives which help tackleclimate change, enhance job creation through the private sector, anddeliver improved governance, particularly assisting the Government’sfight against corruption, on which we are the lead donor. We have alsowidened our partnership, working with not only the Government but alsothe National Assembly, the private sector, and the civil society.
We aim to continue building a partnership across these areas beyond2016, through the British Embassy. In addition, we will continue toprovide funding for example through NGOs and global funds focusing onclimate change or mine clearance.
What are the highlights ofthe programme to celebrate the 40th anniversary of UK –Vietnamdiplomatic relations in 2013?
Ambassador Antony Stokes: Theprogramme had a remarkable beginning. Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit toLondon in January was the first by a General Secretary of the CommunistParty at the invitation of our Prime Minister David Cameron.
This was followed by a visit to Vietnam by British Minister of DefenceLord Astor. In November we will appoint Britain’s first residentDefence attaché to Vietnam. We will mark this new defence relationshipwith a visit in December by the Royal Navy ship HMS Daring to Ho ChiMinh City, drawing the year’s programme to a dramatic end
The programme of celebration also includes music, design, fashion, film and sport.
For example, Vietnamese fashion designer Cong Tri presented acollection during London Fashion Week in February and the VietnameseEmbassy later showcased his work over a week at the Southbank inLondon in June.
Arsenal made history by being the first English Premier League team to play in Vietnam in July.
And last week we brought another British sport to Hanoi, when Iattended the Olympic Legacy International Friendship Rugby match.
Later this month “GREAT week” will highlight creative industries,food, drink and education, and provide a platform for British companiesto build solid business relationships with Vietnamese partners.
“GREAT” Week will feature events in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi MinhCity, including a series of cultural activities and exhibitions.
There is a lot going on, and you can read more about all this on theEmbassy’s Facebook . I hope you join us in celebrating 40 years ofbilateral relations, and a bolder, brighter future.-VNA
