Vietnam supports UK in promoting economic ties with ASEAN
VOV.VN - Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on September 7 received Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom Eleanor Laing on the sidelines of the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments (WCSP5).
Both sides shared the view that the Vietnam-UK relations have still developed positively despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has welcomed many British Government officials including the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary, and at the same time maintained bilateral cooperation mechanisms in all fields, including diplomacy, economy, trade and investment.
Both countries have coordinated well at multilateral forums such as the United Nations Security Council, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and ASEAN. Vietnam has voiced its strong support for the UK to become a full dialogue partner of ASEAN.
Hue emphasized that the UK is Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in Europe, while the enforcement of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) in May 1, 2021 is expected to promote trade between the two countries.
Currently, the UK has 421 investment projects in Vietnam, with total capital of US$3.92 billion.
NA Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam supports the UK in strengthening economic and trade relations with the region. It is also ready to support the UK’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
He suggested that said that the two countries build effective cooperation models, commensurate with the potential and strategic partnership between the two countries.
He thanked the UK for presenting 415,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, and requested that the British Parliament provide continued support for the Southeast Asian nation in its access to vaccine sources and medical supplies, as well as vaccine production technology.
For her part, Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing said the UK supports efforts to strengthen ties with Vietnam and welcomes Vietnam’s participation in the upcoming 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be hosted by the UK in November 2021.
The two sides exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern. They underlined the importance of fully observing international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as settlement of disputes by peaceful means.
