Important milestones in Vietnam-UK relations

E-Magazine | Nhandan.vn

Taking place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Partnership (2010-2025), the visit opens up an important opportunity for leaders of both sides to discuss and agree on directions to promote and elevate the relationship to new heights in the coming period, while expanding cooperation in new areas that are the UK's strengths and are suitable for Vietnam's development requirements.

Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1973. The two countries signed a Joint Statement on the establishment of relations to the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership in September 2010.

Over the years, bilateral relations have developed substantially and effectively in all areas, commensurate with the level of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership. The Party and State of Vietnam always attach importance to and pay special attention to further strengthening and bringing the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership to a new stage of development, meeting the expectations of the people of the two countries, for peace , cooperation and development in the region and the world. Meanwhile, the UK attaches importance to developing the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, considering Vietnam one of the most important partners in the region.

General Secretary To Lam received British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, October 17, 2025. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

The two sides regularly maintain delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels; effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms; and promote coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the ASEAN-UK cooperation framework. Vietnam has actively supported the UK in the negotiation process to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Do Minh Hung

The Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership is currently at a very good stage of development with many outstanding achievements in the fields of bilateral cooperation as well as effective coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums and international organizations.

Regarding economic and trade cooperation, the two countries signed the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which officially took effect on December 31, 2020. Currently, the UK is Vietnam's third largest trading partner in Europe. Bilateral trade turnover in 2024 will reach 8.4 billion USD, an increase of 18% compared to 2023; in the first 6 months of 2025, it will reach 4.3 billion USD, an increase of nearly 10% compared to the same period in 2024.

The UK-Vietnam Summit on the International Financial Centre took place in Hanoi on September 15, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

The UK ranks 15th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam. UK investment projects in Vietnam focus mainly on the fields of finance and banking, information technology, manufacturing, renewable energy and service industries such as education, healthcare, transportation and real estate. These are areas where the UK has strengths and are consistent with Vietnam's economic development orientation, green transformation and innovation.

Education and training is a highlight in bilateral cooperation. The UK focuses on developing cooperation with Vietnam in this field with the presence of the British Council in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City; actively promoting the participation of leading UK schools in training cooperation and developing higher education institutions in Vietnam. 32 training cooperation programs between universities and colleges of the two countries have been established. The UK also actively supports improving English training capacity in Vietnam and expanding scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in the UK. Currently, there are more than 12,000 Vietnamese students studying at UK schools.

In addition, the UK is also one of the partners with the most regular and active cooperation activities with Vietnam in the field of environment, climate change and implementation of the results at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26). At the March 2022 meeting in Germany, the Ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) decided to approve the UK's proposal to support a Just Energy Transition Partnership agreement between the G7 and Vietnam (JETP).

The British Council, in collaboration with the British Embassy in Hanoi and the Ministry of Education and Training, organized the Training Cooperation Forum with the theme ThinkTNE - Enhancing training cooperation between the UK and Vietnam on October 19, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Regarding cooperation between localities of the two countries, Da Nang city signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Birmingham city (UK), prioritizing 5 areas: economic development, trade and investment; digital infrastructure, innovation and technology, financial technology; education and training; sustainable development and circular economy; sports, tourism and cultural exchange. Vinh city signed an MOU with Newhaven city.

Cooperation between the two countries in the semiconductor field has a lot of room and brings great potential. On August 18, 2025, the British Embassy in Vietnam and the National Innovation Center (NIC) jointly organized the Vietnam-UK Semiconductor Forum. The UK committed to long-term cooperation through the presence of leading technology and academic corporations such as ARM, Oxford Instruments, Renishaw and the University of Liverpool. On the Vietnamese side, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, FPT Semiconductor and CT Semiconductor also presented plans to participate more deeply in the global value chain.

The relationship between the two countries still has a lot of potential for development, especially in the fields of defense-security, finance-currency, science-technology, labor, energy conversion, climate change response...

There are currently about 110,000 Vietnamese people in the UK, including 12,000 students, postgraduates. The Vietnamese community in the UK generally lives in harmony and stability, 90% of them live in large cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester...

The cultural event “Vietnamese Uniform for Walking” 2025 was held in London on August 31, 2025. This is a series of outstanding cultural events organized by the Vietnamese community living abroad to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

The UK considers Vietnam an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region and wishes to strengthen comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the fields of politics-diplomacy, security, trade, finance, education, energy transition and sustainable development.

- British Foreign Secretary Seema Malhotra

I firmly believe that the official visit to the UK by General Secretary To Lam and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will be a great success, comprehensively promoting the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries to a new height, contributing to the realization of the country's development goals in the new period and enhancing Vietnam's prestige and foreign position in the region and the world.

- Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Do Minh Hung

The success of the visit by General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation will add strong momentum to deepen the good friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the UK, thereby enhancing the connection between Asia and Europe, continuing to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in each region and in the world.

Publication date: October 28, 2025

Directed by: Chu Hong Thang - Pham Truong Son

Content: Minh Hang - Nguyen Ha

Presented by: Nha Nam

Source: According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VNA

Source: https://nhandan.vn/special/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tham-vuong-quoc-anh-1/index.html#source=home/home-highlight