Great potential for Vietnam – UK future cooperation: Ambassador Iain Frew

Fruitful gains

Ambassador Frew, during a recent interview granted to VTC News, noted that 2023 was a special year for Vietnam-UK relations as both countries celebrated 50 years of their diplomatic ties. Bilateral relations have developed strongly in all areas, especially after the two countries lifted relations to that of a strategic partnership in 2010. The two countries have maintained regular reciprocal visits to outline orientations for future cooperation.

Most notably, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong made a working trip to the UK in 2023 where he attended the coronation of King Charles III and met UK officials in a bid to further deepen the bilateral partnership. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also attended the 26th UN Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in the UK in 2021 where he delivered Vietnam’s strong political commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

According to the diplomat, trade and economic cooperation is a major pillar in bilateral relations, with two-way trade turnover last year reaching more than GBP6.9 billion, representing an increase of 29% compared to the previous year and 10 times compared to a decade ago. Both sides have set an ambitious target of raising bilateral trade by double once again over the next decade.

The UK and Vietnam have signed a bilateral free trade agreement (UKVFTA) which came into force in May, 2021. The enforcement of the trade pact has opened up fresh opportunities for the two countries to increase trade exchanges.

The UK, the fifth largest economy in the world as of 2021, has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after 21 months of negotiations. The Vietnamese side strongly supported the UK’s CPTPP bid, especially during the last round of negotiations taking place on Phu Quoc island of Kien Giang province, southern Vietnam in 2023.

The Ambassador stated that the UK is proud to have strengthened ties in education, another important pillar in bilateral cooperation, with Vietnam over the years. Through the signed document on education linkages, as well as student and university exchange programmes, English has become an important element in the relationship between the governments and people of the two countries over the past half century.

Along with international economic integration, the Vietnamese side actively takes part in international peacekeeping operations, whilst the UK is also proud to make a contribution to that process, according to the Ambassador. Both sides are partners in peacekeeping operations, contributing to the latter’s role in the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Future cooperation

Both the UK and Vietnam boast great potential for future cooperation in multiple fields, especially trade, from which they can increase prosperity, create jobs, and improve investment.

The two countries should strive to take advantage of trade opportunities to expand cooperation into other fields where the UK is developed and Vietnam has needs, such as finance and services, said the Ambassador.

Furthermore, the two countries can also expand cooperation in the fields of the digital economy, science-technology, health services, agriculture, and energy transition. Vietnam has signed the political statement on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with the group of seven industrialised nations (G7) and partners, including the UK.

The UK is proud to be an important partner and support Vietnam in realising its net zero emissions commitment by successfully implementing the JETP agreement, said the Ambassador.

He noted that the UK would assist the country to develop offshore wind and solar power to transform the grid and ensure it can support the future growth of the low carbon economy, whilst also achieving the energy transition with the support of technology and international investment.

Education remains a priority field of cooperation between both sides, particularly as Vietnam is one of five priority countries globally with which the UK wishes to build partnerships in its international education strategy. More and more British universities are looking to access the Vietnamese market as they explore cooperation opportunities. Currently, there are approximately 11,000 Vietnamese students in the UK, with the number expected to keep rising over the coming years.

In the interview, the UK Ambassador said he has travelled the length and breadth of Vietnam, exploring the country, its people, and culture, as well as cooperation opportunities. He also shared that he likes Vietnamese cuisine and wants to introduce it to international friends.