Nation hopes for UK facilitation of its access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies
VOV.VN - Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has proposed the UK Government further facilitate Vietnam's access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies and consider transferring its vaccine production technology to the Southeast Asian nation.
At a reception in Hanoi on June 22 for Dominic Raab, UK First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Minh said the UK is a leading nation in COVID-19 vaccine research and development and is one of the countries which have contributed the most to the COVAX Facility.
He hailed the positive development of the Vietnam – UK strategic partnership in the recent past and expressed his confidence that the UK diplomat’s current visit would give fresh impetus to the bilateral cooperation.
Raab told his host that Vietnam is an important strategic partner of the UK, particularly when the European nation has promoted its engagement and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in the post-Brexit period.
To ramp up cooperation in line with the “Joint Declaration on the Vietnam - UK Strategic Partnership: Forging Ahead for Another 10 Years”, the two sides agreed to soon resume the exchange of delegations, especially high-ranking ones, and cooperation mechanisms when the conditions allow.
Minh used this occasion to suggest the UK offer optimal conditions for Vietnamese exports to enter its market in a bid to capitalize on opportunities brought about by the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).
He assured Vietnam’s willingness to facilitate British firms’ expansion of their investment, particularly in potential fields such as renewable energy, digital economy, banking, insurance, financial services, and education - training.
The Deputy PM asked both sides to go ahead with their cooperation at international forums such as the UN Security Council (UNSC) during 2020-2021, when Vietnam serves as a non-permanent member of the council, and ASEM.
Vietnam would work closely with the UK to ensure the success of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) hosted by the UK in November this year.
Raab thanked Vietnam for supporting the UK's efforts to secure the ASEAN Dialogue Partner status, as well as in negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Underlining the importance of ensuring the freedom of navigation and overflight, security and peace in the East Sea, the two officials noted that the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the legal framework for all activities at sea and ocean.
UK First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab is on a two-day visit to Vietnam to forge closer bilateral ties between the two nations.
Speaking in Vietnam, Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab said, “The UK greatly values our friendship with Viet Nam. Since my last visit, we have made progress on trade and economic ties.
“We welcome Viet Nam’s support for UK’s accession to the CPTPP trading block, and I am very grateful for its ASEAN chairmanship last year – laying the foundations towards the UK becoming an ASEAN dialogue partner”.
