The U.K. is currently the sixth-largest economy in the world, with London serving as one of the leading global financial centers. The country pursues a robust multilateral foreign policy, strengthening alliances, maintaining its special relationship with the U.S., rebuilding ties with the E.U. and China, and playing a pioneering role in areas such as climate change and non-traditional security. The U.K. regards the Indo-Pacific region as a strategic priority, promoting cooperation, expanding economic linkages, diversifying partnerships, and engaging more deeply with the region’s fast-growing markets, including Vietnam.
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Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly |
Vietnam and the U.K. established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1973. In September 2010, both sides signed a Joint Declaration upgrading their ties to a Strategic Partnership. In 2020, on the 10th anniversary of that partnership, the two countries issued another Joint Declaration outlining the development orientation for the next decade, with a focus on deepening cooperation in seven priority areas, namely political and diplomatic relations; trade, investment, and the business environment; sustainable development and development cooperation; education, training, and vocational orientation; defense, security, and organized crime combat; people-to-people exchanges and equality; regional and international issues.
The two countries have maintained frequent high-level visits and exchanges, effectively implemented bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and strengthened coordination on regional and international matters at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the ASEAN - U.K. cooperation framework. Vietnam has actively supported the U.K. in its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
The two sides have signed the U.K. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). The U.K. is now Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in Europe, while Vietnam is the U.K.’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade turnover reached USD 8.4 billion in 2024, up 18% from 2023; in the first eight months of 2025 alone, it reached USD 6.1 billion, nearly 10% higher year-on-year. Regarding investment, the U.K. currently has over 600 valid projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of approximately USD 4.65 billion, ranking 15th out of 152 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, mainly in manufacturing, real estate, and mining. Conversely, Vietnam has 16 investment projects in the U.K., worth over USD 37.6 million, focusing on finance, wholesale and retail, automobile and motorcycle repair, accommodation, and food services.
In the field of defense cooperation, the two countries have established an annual deputy-ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue, actively exchanged delegations, cooperated in training and information sharing, and promoted collaboration in U.N. peacekeeping operations, English language training, maritime security, cartography, and hydrography. They have also strengthened joint efforts to combat transnational organized crime, terrorism, illegal migration, and human trafficking.
In education and training, around 12,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in the U.K. Several major U.K. universities have established or are planning to open campuses in Vietnam. The two sides have carried out about 50 joint research projects and other academic initiatives. The U.K. also serves as the coordinator and a key supporter in implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between Vietnam and the International Partners Group (IPG).
The official visit of General Secretary To Lam to the U.K. demonstrates Vietnam’s high regard for its Strategic Partnership with the country and contributes to enhancing Vietnam’s role and position in the U.K. and Europe’s foreign policy. The visit also reaffirms the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, the diversification and multilateralization of external relations and active and pro-active international integration, set forth by the 13th National Party Congress.
With this foundation, the visit is expected to be a great success, helping deepen the bilateral partnership and contribute positively to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
By the Editorial Board of the People’s Army Newspaper
Translated by Tran Hoai