Proactively promote and deepen the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership

President Vo Van Thuong and British King Charles III. (Photo: VNA)

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK (September 11, 1973 - September 11, 2023), a reporter from the Vietnam News Agency in London interviewed Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long about the achievements and prospects in bilateral relations.

– Mr. Ambassador, how do you evaluate the achievements of cooperation between Vietnam and the UK over the past 50 years? According to you, what are the strengths of cooperation that need to be promoted?

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long: Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations in 1973, but trade relations between the two countries date back many centuries. Therefore, it can be said that the relationship between the two countries is much deeper and broader than the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Over the past 50 years, bilateral cooperation has achieved many important achievements. Most importantly, the two sides have built a comprehensive and specific framework of cooperation in many fields.

Overall, in 2010, the two countries signed a Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership. In 2020, the two sides issued a New Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership with 7 priority areas of cooperation including politics -diplomacy; trade-investment-business; sustainable development and growth; education-training, science-technology; defense, security, organized crime; people-to-people exchange and international issues. The two sides also affirmed their aim to elevate relations to a higher level in the next 10 years.

Specifically in each field, regarding political-diplomatic cooperation, the two sides established an annual strategic dialogue mechanism at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers on a rotating basis and regularly maintained high-level delegation exchanges.

In the three years from 2021 to present, there have been three delegations of senior Vietnamese leaders visiting and working in the UK and 10 delegations of British ministers and secretaries of state to Vietnam. Maintaining high-level contacts helps promote common cooperation in all aspects, enhancing understanding and political trust between the two sides.

In terms of economy and trade, the two sides maintain annual meetings of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) (the 12th in 2022). Immediately after the UK left the European Union (Brexit), Vietnam and the UK reached a Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), ensuring that two-way trade is not affected by Brexit.

As a result, bilateral trade turnover has continuously increased in recent years, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching 6.7 billion USD in 2021 and 6.83 billion USD in 2022. Notably, Vietnam had a trade surplus of over 5 billion USD (in 2022). Vietnam is the UK's 9th largest trading partner in goods, while the UK is Vietnam's 3rd largest European trading partner.

Regarding development cooperation, the UK is one of Vietnam's leading donors (£50 million/year in the 2006-2010 period), and has completed a 10-year Development Partnership Agreement (ADP) with Vietnam for the 2006-2015 period.

Although it stopped providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 2016, the UK has maintained support for Vietnam through development funds such as the Prosperity Fund and the Newton Fund, continuing to support Vietnam in developing technology, research and innovation, strengthening public governance, improving the business environment, green growth, and renewable energy.

Cooperation in education, training, research and innovation has been strengthened. There are currently nearly 15,000 Vietnamese students studying in the UK. British and Vietnamese universities are effectively implementing more than 100 cooperation programs.

Regarding science and technology, the two sides have established science and technology cooperation offices at their embassies. In the coming time, the UK will step up support for Vietnam towards Industry 4.0, a low-carbon economy and climate resilience; research and innovation; Green Growth and renewable energy. The two sides will also promote cooperation in new areas where the UK has strengths such as biotechnology, new materials, quantum, artificial intelligence, etc.

Defense and security cooperation has developed positively. The two sides have exchanged many defense and security delegations, promoted cooperation in training, information exchange, and equipment procurement. The British Defense Minister made his first official visit to Vietnam in July 2021. In recent years, British naval ships have frequently visited Vietnam.

Scene of the 9th Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue. (Photo: VNA)

The two countries' defense ministries have raised the annual defense policy dialogue to the level of Deputy Minister (so far, there have been 4 meetings, rotating in each country); established a Working Group on defense cooperation, promoting cooperation in many priority areas such as United Nations peacekeeping (the UK transferred the field hospital of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in South Sudan to Vietnam), English training, maritime security, cartography and hydrography.

The two sides also promote cooperation and coordination in preventing transnational organized crime, counter-terrorism, illegal migration, human trafficking, implementing the Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. From 2022, the two countries will establish a migration dialogue between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the UK Home Office, creating an important framework for cooperation in these areas.

Regarding people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, there are many advantages, such as English is widely taught and learned from primary school in Vietnam and is considered one of the means to help international integration. More and more British people consider Vietnam an attractive tourist destination. The number of Vietnamese tourists who want to visit the UK and experience British culture, sports and music is also increasing.

The Vietnamese community in the UK, with about 100,000 people, is a cultural bridge between the two countries. Direct flights between Vietnam and the UK are a geographical connection, bringing the people of the two countries closer together. With such advantages, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are increasingly developing.

The formation and active activities of Vietnamese associations and groups in the UK in recent times, with meaningful activities such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival programs, Vietnamese language teaching and learning, and programs of the Overseas Vietnamese Committee for overseas Vietnamese have contributed to further connecting the Vietnamese community in the UK with the homeland.

Along with the above advantages, the Embassies of the two countries also regularly hold cultural promotion activities, such as the event of Vietnamese Cultural Days in the UK, which is a bridge connecting the people of the two countries, enhancing the understanding of the British people towards Vietnam, in which promoting the cooperative relationship and friendship between the two countries, at the same time promoting and introducing the image of the country, people and culture of Vietnam in the UK.

Regarding cooperation at international and regional forums, the two sides cooperated closely and effectively during Vietnam's tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term and the 2020-2021 term. Both sides were members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term.

Vietnam supports the UK's proposal to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN, promoting the UK's cooperation with ASEAN, especially in its role as ASEAN Chair in 2020. Vietnam also supports the UK's early accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership ( CPTPP ).

– What is your assessment of the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time, both in bilateral relations as well as international coordination at multilateral forums?

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long: The potential for cooperation between the two countries is still very large, especially in areas where the UK has strengths and Vietnam has a need for cooperation.

In terms of trade and investment, the two economies are highly open and complementary to each other. After Brexit , the UK wants to be more connected with the Indo-Pacific region. Therefore, Vietnam needs to make better use of these opportunities and potentials.

The field of education-science-technology has great potential. It is necessary to continue to maintain and expand the Chevening Scholarship Program, welcome more students to study in the UK under the 89 Scholarship of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, and implement and expand the Newton Research Support Program.

Wind power farm in Ninh Thuan. (Photo: Cong Thu/VNA)

Regarding climate change, the Vietnamese Government set a roadmap towards a net zero emissions target by 2050 at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

In 2022, the Group of Seven (G7) along with Norway, Denmark and Vietnam adopted a political declaration to join the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This is a major effort by all parties, with the UK playing an important role, mobilizing 15.5 billion USD to reform and create a framework for renewable energy investment in Vietnam.

I believe that this will be an important area of cooperation between the two countries in the coming time. Vietnam needs to deploy and effectively use support in JETP to transform energy and successfully achieve the committed net zero emissions target.

– Could you please tell us about the focus of cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in 2023 and the following years?

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long: The focus of the work of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK is to proactively promote and deepen the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership, with the key activity in 2023 being the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The focuses to promote the strategic partnership include strengthening economic and trade relations with effective implementation of UKVFTA , taking advantage of opportunities after the UK joined CPTPP, promoting cooperation in financial services, renewable energy, investment, Digital Economy; promoting defense-security cooperation, especially cooperation in maritime security, cyber security and illegal immigration; supporting the Green Transition process and combating climate change through the implementation of JETP; enhancing educational cooperation, including higher education, general education, vocational training, quality certification, signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Vocational Training Cooperation; enhancing cultural, tourism and people-to-people exchanges; and promoting bilateral cooperation at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, etc.

– According to the Ambassador, what should the two countries do to further promote bilateral relations?

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long: The two sides need to increase the exchange of high-level delegations, thereby creating new momentum for bilateral relations.

The two countries also need to effectively implement signed cooperation frameworks, including the UKVFTA, JETP and cooperation mechanisms on education, science-technology, security and defense, while developing and approving action plans to concretize commitments and cooperation priorities between the two countries in the coming period.

– How have the two sides coordinated this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations in the two countries? What activities has the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK organized and will organize to celebrate this event?

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long: Half a century is a very important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. Therefore, preparations for this special year were discussed very early by the Embassy, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO), and British partners.

On February 22, the FCDO held a ceremony to announce the Vietnam-UK Friendship Year at the FCDO headquarters in London, attended by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Secretary of State for Defence Ben Walace and Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The Embassy's activities have received enthusiastic support from the FCDO, British agencies, localities and businesses.

This year, the Embassy plans to organize 50 cultural events, promote trade, investment, educational cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges in localities across the UK, including the Photo Exhibition celebrating 50 years of Vietnam-UK relations; Vietnam Cultural Days in London with a contemporary art exhibition and Vietnamese fashion show, a discussion on the history of Vietnam-UK relations, an educational discussion; and a series of programs called Meeting Vietnam in the localities of Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.

In particular, the Embassy organized a series of activities Following Uncle Ho's footsteps in the UK, revisiting the places where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked.

- Thank you very much, Ambassador./.

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