Also attending the Dialogue were Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long, British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew and representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Public Security/Interior of the two countries.

Scene of the 9th Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

At the Dialogue, the two sides assessed that the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership has developed increasingly deeply and comprehensively in all fields, both bilaterally and multilaterally, especially the establishment of the Strategic Partnership framework in 2010 and the Joint Statement in 2020 with 7 priority areas demonstrating the strong determination of the two countries to elevate bilateral relations. Political trust has been consolidated through the maintenance of delegation exchanges at all levels and high levels, through all channels, most recently President Vo Van Thuong attended the coronation ceremony of King Charles III, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the occasion of the G7 Summit (May 2023), and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to the UK (July 2022). Trade and economic relations have been continuously expanded on the basis of making good use of the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). Defense and security cooperation continues to be promoted and put into practice. People-to-people exchange, including educational cooperation, continues to be a bright spot with more than 12,000 Vietnamese students studying at all levels in the UK.

Affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that the two sides need to promote positive cooperation results in the fields of politics, economics, education-training, defense, security, people-to-people exchange and expand cooperation to new areas of cooperation in which the UK has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as new energy, green finance, strategic infrastructure, etc.

Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan highly appreciated Vietnam's development achievements and international and regional role; affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner in the UK Government's overall Indo-Pacific strategy. The UK welcomed Vietnam's strong commitments at COP 26 on reducing emissions to zero by 2050, Vietnam's adoption of the Political Declaration on a Just Energy Transition with the G7; affirmed that the UK is ready to cooperate with international partners and the private sector to cooperate and support Vietnam in the green transition, sustainable development and response to climate change.

To further deepen the Strategic Partnership and promote the great potential between the two countries in the coming time, the two sides agreed to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level; continue to effectively maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms; coordinate the implementation of the UKVFTA to increase bilateral trade turnover; encourage British businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in the fields of renewable energy, digital, finance-banking, innovation, high-quality infrastructure, etc. The two sides also discussed specific measures to further enhance cooperation in science-technology and education-training, including student exchanges and joint research. The UK increased scholarships for Vietnamese students and effectively used scientific research support funded by the UK, etc.

In the field of security, the two sides agreed to continue close coordination in the fields of migration, immigration, prevention of organized crime, high-tech crime, combating human trafficking as well as cooperation in training and capacity building of law enforcement officers.

Regarding defense cooperation, both sides were pleased with the positive developments in cooperation between the two countries in recent times, such as the friendly visit to Vietnam by a British naval ship, and the UK's support for training Vietnamese soldiers to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping force. The two sides agreed to continue to increase the exchange of defense delegations; continue to promote cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping; share information on strategic research; and expand cooperation in potential areas such as cyber security and maritime security.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Secretary of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Based on the common priority of agricultural cooperation and the signing of many important agreements to create directions for cooperation in this field, the two sides exchanged measures to promote cooperation in facilitating the opening of each other's markets for agricultural products, promoting timber trade, controlling food quality and safety, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture as well as the possibility of tripartite cooperation to ensure global food security.

Discussing cooperation between the two countries at international and regional forums, Minister of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan appreciated Vietnam for supporting and assisting the UK in negotiating to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The two sides agreed to increase exchanges and coordination at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, within the framework of ASEAN-UK cooperation. The two sides also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, emphasizing the importance of complying with international law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter; supporting ASEAN's central role and stance on regional security issues, including ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, and the rule of law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) in the East Sea region, and supporting the development of an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang in a meeting with Deputy Speaker of the British House of Commons Nigel Evans.

* On the same day, within the framework of the visit, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang met with Vice President of the UK House of Commons Nigel Evans at the headquarters of the UK Parliament. Vice President Nigel Evans expressed his delight at the very good development of the relationship between the two countries, good cooperation in all fields, and joint response to new challenges in the context of a rapidly changing and multi-dimensional world situation. Appreciating the significance of the Strategic Dialogue, President Nigel Evans said that this is one of the important mechanisms to comprehensively discuss issues in bilateral cooperation, emphasizing that Vietnam is the UK's leading important partner in the region, and promoting and expanding cooperation with Vietnam is generally supported by the Parliament.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang agreed that the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership is being promoted by both sides in all aspects, through channels including the parliamentary channel, highly appreciating the support of the Royal Family, Government and Parliament of the UK for Vietnam, and expressing her wish to continue receiving attention and support for the Vietnamese community in the UK.

The two sides also agreed to coordinate in organizing the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations with meaningful activities in both countries.

PEACE