Developing comprehensive UK-Vietnam relations

Prince Andrew made the statement while co-chairing the UK-Vietnam Business Conference at Buckingham Palace in London on December 9, which was attended by 300 representatives from UK and Vietnamese businesses.

He said, in line with expanding cooperation with the Southeast Asian region, UK businesses are aiming to boost two-way trade with Vietnam. Both sides are also trying to utilize their potential to improve the efficiency of their economic and investment activities.

The UK-Vietnam Business Forum is part of the activities under the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries, he said, adding that it has offered opportunities for many UK and Vietnamese business to promote cooperation in various fields.

The UK not only hopes to develop trade relations with Vietnam, but also to send representatives to the country to seek new business and cooperation opportunities, Prince Andrew said.

He also urged UK and Vietnamese businesses to work closely together to make their cooperation more effective.

Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is also co-chairman of the conference, said Vietnam is making every effort to promote its international integration as well as its renewal process, focusing on completing market economy institutions, creating a fair competitive environment, and accelerating administrative reform.

The country also aims to develop high-quality human resources and develop its technology in order to encourage more foreign investors to penetrate its markets.

The Vietnamese National Assembly, Government, and people hope to boost ties with the UK in all fields including politics, diplomacy, education, culture, sports, and tourism.

NA chairman Hung said he hopes the forum will help Vietnamese businesses work out the best way to optimize the advantages of the strategic partnership between the two countries.