The invitation has been extended by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Sir Keir Starmer, the Ministry said in a press communique on October 26.

The visit takes place as Vietnam and the UK celebrate over five decades of diplomatic relations, marked by deepening cooperation across trade, investment, education, and climate action. It is expected to create new momentum for strengthening the Vietnam–UK Strategic Partnership, advancing shared goals of peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1973. In September 2010, the two countries signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, which was renewed in September 2020 with seven priority areas for cooperation. Both sides have expressed their intention to elevate the partnership to a higher level in the coming time.

Economic cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations. The UK–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which took effect on December 31, 2020, has helped drive robust trade growth. Two-way trade reached US$8.42 billion in 2024, up 18% year on year - the highest level to date.

In the first eight months of 2025, bilateral trade totaled US$6.1 billion, rising 9.3% from the same period in 2024, with Vietnam’s exports at US$5.4 billion and imports from the UK at US$630.9 million.

As of August 2025, the UK had 606 valid investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$4.65 billion, ranking 15th among 152 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. British investments focus mainly on manufacturing, real estate, and mining, while Vietnam has 16 investment projects in the UK totaling US$37.6 million, primarily in finance, trade, hospitality, and services.

Beyond trade and investment, the two countries also cooperate in education and training, climate change adaptation, energy transition, semiconductor development, and locality-to-locality partnerships.

The UK is home to an estimated 110,000 Vietnamese nationals, including around 12,000 students and researchers. The Vietnamese community in the UK is well integrated and contributes actively to cultural and economic exchanges between the two countries.

The upcoming visit by General Secretary To Lam is expected to reinforce political trust, expand strategic cooperation, and open new chapters in the Vietnam–UK partnership, aligning with both countries’ shared vision for prosperity and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Vietnam desires to further enhance strategic partnership with UK

VOV.VN - Vietnam always values and seeks to further strengthen its strategic partnership with the United Kingdom, a key partner of Vietnam in Europe, said Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Acting Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung during his phone talks with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on the evening of October 18.