The Prime Minister highly appreciated the visit, saying it would help boost cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the field of banking and financial services.

He said he was pleased with the developing relations between Vietnam and the UK in various fields ranging from politics and economies to investment and education.

In the context of the global economic downturn, many major UK corporations, including BP, Rolls Royce, Prudential, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank, are still expanding their operations in Vietnam, he said.

The Vietnamese government leader affirmed that Vietnam would do all in its power to boost cooperation with the UK, in line with a 2008 joint statement on establishing a development partnership between the two countries, based on the pillars of politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, development aid, education and training, regulation of migration and combating organised crime.
PM Dung said he hoped that the UK would share experiences and give assistance to Vietnam ’s infrastructure development.

He expressed thanks to the UK government for providing development aid and supporting Vietnam in conducting WTO negotiations with the EU.

Lord Mayor Luder said his visit, with the participation of some leading UK financial businesses, indicates a keen interest on their part in the Vietnamese market.

Briefing PM Dung on his working sessions with local agencies, Mr Luder said they exchanged experiences in mobilising investment sources for infrastructure development.

He recalled UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s statement that the UK government supports Vietnam in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the EU.

UK businessmen praised Vietnam ’s economic development and expressed their wishes that the Vietnamese government would provide more favourable conditions for them to do long-term business in the country.