Vietnam places great importance on strengthening Vietnam-UK strategic partnership

President Vo Van Thuong accepted the invitation of the British Royal Family to attend the coronation of King Charles III, which is a clear proof contributing to further consolidating political trust and all-around cooperation between the two countries, Son told his host.

FM Son expressed his delight at the strong developments in the two countries' relations in multitude of fields, in line with the spirit of the 2020 Joint Statement aimed at elevating the relationship to a higher level in the next decade.

Son suggested the two sides continue to enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, effectively implement cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, and actively carry out the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

Both sides need to ramp up trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, encourage British businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas where the UK has strengths and is in line with Vietnam's development orientation such as climate change response, renewable energy, finance - banking, digital transformation, innovation, and high-quality infrastructure building.

Vietnam supports and congratulates the UK on completing negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Vietnamese diplomat said, while suggesting that the UK continue to support Vietnam in responding to climate change, especially in affected areas such as the Mekong Delta and the Mekong River, building institutions, and policies and training human resource in the process of green transition, and sustainable development.

He said he hopes that both sides will soon sign an agreement on research and innovation, connecting and developing the startup ecosystem between the two countries. Son also asked the UK support Vietnam in improving its health capacity and build a resilient health system.

In response, the UK Foreign Secretary expressed his appreciation and gratitude to President Vo Van Thuong for attending the coronation of the British King, especially in the context of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, which demonstrates the sound development of all-around cooperation between the two countries.

He emphasized the increasingly important role of Vietnam in the region and in the world and highlighted Vietnam as an important partner of the UK in the Asia-Pacific region.
James Cleverly expressed his thanks to Vietnam for backing his nation in the process of joining the CPTPP, adding that the two sides are actively cooperating in traditional fields such as trade and investment, while simultaneously expanding cooperation in other new potential fields such as renewable energy, and climate change response, which are issues that will shape the relationship between the two countries in the coming time.

The two diplomats agreed on the need to take measures to further promote the two countries' strategic partnership in an effective and substantive manner, in accordance with the aspirations and capabilities of both sides.

They also consented to FM Bui Thanh Son's proposal to bolster cooperation between the two countries across multiple fields, including the establishment of a tripartite cooperation mechanism on agriculture between the UK, Vietnam and a third partner.

Son suggested the UK support strengthening people-to-people exchanges, especially cooperation in education and connecting young people of the two nations.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Son and James Cleverly agreed that ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea plays an important role in promoting peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

All disputes should be resolved peacefully by relevant parties through dialogue, on the basis of compliance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), they said.

The two sides also advocated compliance with the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), moving towards an effective, efficient and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

While in London, Vietnamese FM Bui Thanh Son also received Deputy Director General of the AstraZeneca Group Juliette White and attended the ceremony to announce the UK's US$50 million investment package to help Vietnam restore forests and landscapes.

Minister Son praised the AstraZeneca Group for its support for and contributions to the development of the Vietnamese healthcare sector over the past 25 years which has demonstrated that AstraZeneca is a reliable partner of Vietnam.

Son said Vietnam respects its cooperation with AstraZeneca adding that Director General Pascal Soriot's visit to Vietnam last May paved the way for new period of cooperation between the two sides which is expected to expand beyond disease prevention and control to climate change response and green growth.

The US$50-million project to plant 22.5 million trees in Vietnam is in line with Vietnam’s direction for green, sustainable development and its government’s commitment to net zero emission by 2050 made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Son asked  AstraZeneca to work hand in hand to realize the MoU on cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health in order to improve healthcare capacity and self-reliance in medicine, vaccine, and medical supplies and share experience and technology concerning emission reduction and climate change response with Vietnam.