Vietnam and the UK focused on issues surrounding international economicintegration, national defence-security and recent global developmentsduring their fourth strategic dialogue in Hanoi on February 27.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and UK Minister of State for theForeign and Common Wealth Office Hugo Swire expressed their mutualsatisfaction with the development of the two countries’ bilateralcooperation and close coordination at international forums andorganisations, especially the United Nations (UN), the Asia-EuropeMeeting, and the ASEAN-EU framework.
On the path toglobal economic integration, both sides renewed their commitment toexpeditiously conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA)between Vietnam and the EU, which is expected to open new opportunitiesfor both business communities.
They also deemed theeighth meeting of the Joint Economic Trade Committee a constructivediscussion platform for ideas to boost Vietnam-UK trade and investmentactivity, which is slated for early March in London.
Recognising Vietnam’s progress in fulfilling the UN MillennialDevelopment Goals, the UK will taper off its supply of aid to Vietnam byMarch 2016, but continue providing aid packages through the EU andmultilateral mechanisms such as the World Bank and the UN.
The Vietnamese side thanked the UK for its support in reducing povertyand facilitating sustainable development in the country.
The two governments acknowledged the valuable experience gained fromthe 20-year development partnership as useful for Vietnam’ssocio-economic development and social policy building in the time tocome.
In education, they reflected on positivesteps taken towards building a new National Framework of Qualificationsdesigned for the tertiary education sector and to ensure the quality ofvocational colleges in Vietnam.
Both host and guesthailed the establishment of the Vietnam-UK Research Institute topromote post-tertiary research to international standards, and agreed tofurther improve English training in Vietnam and launch a transparentand fair legal framework for UK education providers.
The two sides welcomed the operation of the Newton Fund in Vietnam - apartnership programme on research and innovation and emphasised theirwish to sign a memorandum of understanding this March on creating aframework for cooperation in this field.
Agreeingon joint efforts to respond to climate change and prepare for the 21stsession of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Conventionon Climate Change (COP-21) in Paris, Vietnam and the UK underscored theneed to reach an ambitious agreement at the end of the conference inline with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The UK confirmed that that it will submit the Intended NationalDetermined Contributions Report as scheduled and urged Vietnam to do thesame. Vietnam, meanwhile, spoke highly of the UK’s assistance indeveloping the Calculator 2050 model.
The countries intend to continue their discussions on cooperation in civil nuclear energy, based on past outcomes.
Vietnam hailed the UK’s role as the leading donor to Vietnam’santi-corruption fight and hopes to continue working bilaterally in thisfield.
Turning to the recent developments in theMiddle East, Europe and Asia, both host and guest were of the opinionthat the maintenance of peace, stability, maritime safety and freedom inthe region is the common interest of international community.
They reiterated the common stance on the settlement of territorialdisputes through peaceful means in line with international laws.
The chairs welcomed the extensive and in-depth discussions held duringdefence dialogues and bilateral meetings, including one held lastmonth, on bilateral cooperation in the defence industry and maritimesecurity.
The UK side praised Vietnam for sendingtwo officers to UN peacekeeping missions and its commitment to addinganti-sexual violence content to the training curricula at the country’speacekeeping centre.
It also hailed Vietnam forjoining global efforts against illegal wildlife trading, organised andcyber crimes, modern slavery, money laundering, child exploitation,illegal immigration, and human trafficking.
They also candidly discussed the promotion and protection of human rights.
On the occasion, they urged the design of the Vietnam – UK 2015 ActionPlan and signed a memorandum of understanding on allowing relatives ofdiplomatic representative staff to seek paid jobs in the host country.-VNA
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and UK Minister of State for theForeign and Common Wealth Office Hugo Swire expressed their mutualsatisfaction with the development of the two countries’ bilateralcooperation and close coordination at international forums andorganisations, especially the United Nations (UN), the Asia-EuropeMeeting, and the ASEAN-EU framework.
On the path toglobal economic integration, both sides renewed their commitment toexpeditiously conclude negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA)between Vietnam and the EU, which is expected to open new opportunitiesfor both business communities.
They also deemed theeighth meeting of the Joint Economic Trade Committee a constructivediscussion platform for ideas to boost Vietnam-UK trade and investmentactivity, which is slated for early March in London.
Recognising Vietnam’s progress in fulfilling the UN MillennialDevelopment Goals, the UK will taper off its supply of aid to Vietnam byMarch 2016, but continue providing aid packages through the EU andmultilateral mechanisms such as the World Bank and the UN.
The Vietnamese side thanked the UK for its support in reducing povertyand facilitating sustainable development in the country.
The two governments acknowledged the valuable experience gained fromthe 20-year development partnership as useful for Vietnam’ssocio-economic development and social policy building in the time tocome.
In education, they reflected on positivesteps taken towards building a new National Framework of Qualificationsdesigned for the tertiary education sector and to ensure the quality ofvocational colleges in Vietnam.
Both host and guesthailed the establishment of the Vietnam-UK Research Institute topromote post-tertiary research to international standards, and agreed tofurther improve English training in Vietnam and launch a transparentand fair legal framework for UK education providers.
The two sides welcomed the operation of the Newton Fund in Vietnam - apartnership programme on research and innovation and emphasised theirwish to sign a memorandum of understanding this March on creating aframework for cooperation in this field.
Agreeingon joint efforts to respond to climate change and prepare for the 21stsession of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Conventionon Climate Change (COP-21) in Paris, Vietnam and the UK underscored theneed to reach an ambitious agreement at the end of the conference inline with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The UK confirmed that that it will submit the Intended NationalDetermined Contributions Report as scheduled and urged Vietnam to do thesame. Vietnam, meanwhile, spoke highly of the UK’s assistance indeveloping the Calculator 2050 model.
The countries intend to continue their discussions on cooperation in civil nuclear energy, based on past outcomes.
Vietnam hailed the UK’s role as the leading donor to Vietnam’santi-corruption fight and hopes to continue working bilaterally in thisfield.
Turning to the recent developments in theMiddle East, Europe and Asia, both host and guest were of the opinionthat the maintenance of peace, stability, maritime safety and freedom inthe region is the common interest of international community.
They reiterated the common stance on the settlement of territorialdisputes through peaceful means in line with international laws.
The chairs welcomed the extensive and in-depth discussions held duringdefence dialogues and bilateral meetings, including one held lastmonth, on bilateral cooperation in the defence industry and maritimesecurity.
The UK side praised Vietnam for sendingtwo officers to UN peacekeeping missions and its commitment to addinganti-sexual violence content to the training curricula at the country’speacekeeping centre.
It also hailed Vietnam forjoining global efforts against illegal wildlife trading, organised andcyber crimes, modern slavery, money laundering, child exploitation,illegal immigration, and human trafficking.
They also candidly discussed the promotion and protection of human rights.
On the occasion, they urged the design of the Vietnam – UK 2015 ActionPlan and signed a memorandum of understanding on allowing relatives ofdiplomatic representative staff to seek paid jobs in the host country.-VNA
