Huge potential for stronger Vietnam – UK links

Among the collaboration achievements, the most important is that the two sides have set up frameworks for comprehensive and concrete co-operation across various spheres, he told the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties which was established on September 11, 1973.

In 2010, they signed a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership. Moving ahead to 2020, a new joint statement on the strategic partnership was released, identifying seven priority areas: politics - diplomacy; trade - investment - business; sustainable development and growth; education - training and science - technology; defence, security, and organised crime fight; people-to-people ties; and international affairs.

Both nations affirmed that they will strive to take bilateral relations to a higher level over the subsequent decade, particularly as bilateral co-operation potential remains huge in the fields matching the UK’s strength and Vietnam’s demand,  the diplomat said.

In terms of trade and investment, both economies boast high degrees of openness and complementarity. Following Brexit, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the UK side is keen to become more connected with the Indo-Pacific region. Therefore, Vietnam should seek to further capitalise on these opportunities and potential, he stated.

There is also plenty potential for further collaboration in education and science - technology, meaning it is necessary to maintain and expand scholarship programmes such as Chevening, increase the reception of Vietnamese students in the UK, whilst also boosting the Newton Programme Vietnam.

With regard to climate change fight, at the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021, the Vietnamese Government announced the commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In 2022, G7 countries, along with Norway, Denmark, and Vietnam, moved to adopt the Political Declaration on Establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which was a great effort by the parties concerned, including the UK. This same a total of US$15.5 billion mobilized for reforming and creating a framework for developing renewable energy in the country.

Ambassador Long believes that this will be an important field of co-operation between the two countries in the time ahead.
To further strengthen bilateral ties, the two countries should work to intensify high-level mutual visits and create a new impulse for their linkages; continue effectively carrying out the signed co-operation frameworks, including the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the JETP, and co-operation mechanisms in education, science - technology, security, defence; along with building and approving detailed action plans to realize their commitments and cooperation priorities in the coming time, he noted.

This year, as diplomatic ties turn 50, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK is planning to hold 50 events involving cultural exchanges, trade and investment promotion, educational co-operation, and people to-people ties across the European nation. This includes photo exhibitions on the 50 years of bilateral relations; the Vietnam Days in London; and the Meet Vietnam events in Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

In particular, the Embassy will launch a broad array of events to revisit the British places where President Ho Chi Minh used to stay in during his overseas journey to seek ways to save the homeland, the Ambassador said.