Vietnam-UK friendship year 2023 announced

VOV.VN - The Vietnam-UK Friendship Year 2023 was announced at a ceremony held on February 22 at the headquarters of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK to mark the 50th anniversary of both nations' diplomatic ties.

The event featured the participation of more than 150 guests, including parliamentarians, government officials, and representatives from departments, localities, organizations, and businesses of the UK, as well as Vietnamese agencies, organisations, associations, and enterprises in the host country.  

Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan, who co-chaired the function together with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long, emphasized that bilateral ties are in the process of growing fruitfully. As a result, an array of celebration activities will be held by the two embassies in both London and Hanoi this year.

Reviewing developments in terms of the relations over the past 50 years, she said the UK has become a strategic partner of ASEAN with support from Vietnam.

The nation is striving to become one of the 30 biggest economies in the world, she said, noting that the UK would like to accompany the country on its journey. Indeed, it stands ready and wishes to be an important partner in Vietnam’s green transition.

The UK also expects to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year as a way of contributing to strengthen its relations with Vietnam, Minister Trevelyan continued.

The official expressed her confidence in the close relationship between the British and Vietnamese peoples.

In a pre-recorded speech, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stressed that bilateral ties have been consolidated and enhanced across various spheres. This ranges from politics to economics, national defence and security to education, as well as expanding to science-technology, digital transformation, climate change response, energy transition, green growth, and epidemic prevention and control.

The nation places importance on its relations with the UK, which it views as an important partner in Europe, whilst it remains resolved to work together with the UK side in enhancing the bilateral strategic partnership and coping with global challenges, for peace, co-operation, and further development.

For his part, Ambassador Long briefed participants on the celebration of the 50th anniversary with more than 50 events in trade, investment, education-training, culture, and tourism in London and in more than 10 localities across the UK.

Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart pointed to the substantial potential that exists for both nations to co-operate in renewable energy, especially wind power.

Mark Garnier, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Vietnam, said significant strides have been made in trade and investment ties between the two countries over recent times, with there being ample room for further collaboration.

As of November, 2022, the UK was one of the 15 biggest foreign investors in the Vietnamese market with 500 projects worth US$4.19 billion, up 5.3% on-year.

Last year’s two-way trade hit US$6.83 billion, a rise of 3.4% from 2021, with Vietnamese exports to the UK valued at US$6.06 billion, marking annual growth of 5.2%.

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