Deputy PM Nhan made the remarks while receiving Bill Rammell, the UK Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Gunter Gloser, German Minister of State for Europe in Hanoi on May 26. The two diplomats, who were in Hanoi for the 9^th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM 9), paid courtesy visits to the Deputy PM.

Mr Nhan thanked both countries for prioritising official development assistance to Vietnam, helping to reduce poverty and improve health care, education, environmental protection and international economic integration.

He stressed that both parties should step up cooperation in trade, investment, education and training.
The UK and German Ministers of State praised Vietnam’s achievements in the renewal process, especially in poverty reduction and international economic integration.

Minister of State Bill Rammell affirmed the UK’s determination to implement the 2008 Vietnam-UK Joint Statement toward building a partnership for development based on the pillars of politics, diplomacy, trade and investment, development cooperation, education and training, migration and combating organised crime.

Minister of State Gunter Gloser asserted that the German government would assist Vietnam to turn the Vietnam-Germany University into a regional university, expand the programme of scholarships for Vietnamese students and research students, and step up the teaching of the German language.
He proposed that the relevant agencies of both countries should work together to prepare for the celebrations of the 35^th anniversary of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic ties in 2010.