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U.K. Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew speaking at the event |
Speaking at the celebration, U.K. Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew said, “Today, we celebrate three historic events, namely the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam - U.K. diplomatic ties, 30-year operation of the British Council in Vietnam, and 30 years since the first Chevening scholars left Vietnam to study in the U.K.”
According to Ambassador Iain Frew, there have been many changes since the U.K. and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 1973. He highlighted that Vietnam has undergone an impressive journey of economic development and global integration, in which the U.K. have played a significant role. Thirteen years after the two countries agreed to upgrade their relations to strategic partnership, the U.K. and Vietnam are joining hands to solve important global issues, including climate change. The two countries have become partners within the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
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VUFO Vice President and General Secretary Phan Anh Son at the event |
The diplomat assessed that the two countries still have much potential for cooperation in the fields of health, renewable energy, investment, and trade. He also pledged to work with people of both countries to preserve and develop the strong bond between the U.K. and Vietnam.
VUFO Vice President and General Secretary Phan Anh Son affirmed that since Vietnam and the U.K. officially established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1973, the bilateral relationship has been continuously consolidated and promoted by the two governments and peoples, and the political trust has been enhanced. After the two countries upgraded their relations to Strategic Partnership in 2010 and issued the “Joint Statement on Vietnam - U.K. Strategic Partnership in 2022: Development Orientation for the next ten years,” various cooperation mechanisms between the two countries have been established and effectively implemented, such as strategic dialogue, joint committee for economic and trade cooperation, and defense working group, among others.
Over the past half a century, friendship exchanges and cooperation activities between the two peoples have been held through different forms. “People-to-people diplomatic activities have practically contributed to strengthening understanding and fostering cooperation in all fields, creating a solid foundation for the bilateral relations to increasingly develop. It can be said that the friendship and people-to-people cooperation between Vietnam and the U.K. is fruitfully developing with a lot of potential and room for new cooperative forms and contents,” Mr. Son emphasized.
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A performance at the event |
Laying stress on the outstanding development of Vietnam - U.K. relations, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that in 2022, the Vietnam - U.K. bilateral trade value reached USD 6.9 billion, turning the U.K. into Vietnam's third largest trading partner in Europe and Vietnam's 9th largest importer in the world.
He also highlighted the bilateral cooperation in education, settlement of energy security issues, climate change, and people-to-people exchange. With achievements obtained over the past 50 years, Vu strongly believed that the Vietnam - U.K. relationship will thrive in all fields.
Translated by Tran Hoai