Vietnam - UK strategic partnership develops well

Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his delight at the positive development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership and appreciated the UK's interest in promoting cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam. Strengthened by the good political and diplomatic relations between the two countries and the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the UK is increasingly affirming its role as an important trade and investment partner of Vietnam in Europe. Cooperation between the two sides in culture, society, education and training, defense, security and cooperation at multilateral forums continues to be strengthened.

Minister Bui Thanh Son highly appreciated Mr. Tony Blair's contributions during his term as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007) to the relationship between the two countries. Emphasizing that 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations, Minister Bui Thanh Son hoped that Mr. Tony Blair would actively contribute to further promoting bilateral cooperation in the coming time.

Minister Bui Thanh Son said that Vietnam attaches great importance to mobilizing and effectively using external resources for sustainable national development. Vietnam has made strong commitments on emission reduction at COP 26 and is actively implementing them, including the adoption of the Political Declaration on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with the G7 countries. In this process, Vietnam hopes to continue receiving support from international partners in terms of capital, technology, experience, etc. on the basis of ensuring the harmony of interests of all parties. Vietnam also aims to increase investment attraction from potential partners, including corporations and investment funds from the Middle East; promote in-depth and substantive international integration activities; and promote the construction of an international financial center in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time.

In the context of economic diplomacy being affirmed as a fundamental and central task of Vietnamese diplomacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will step up support for ministries, branches and localities to attract capital, investment, technology and resources for development. Minister Bui Thanh Son hopes that international partners will cooperate and support the implementation of economic diplomacy more effectively and practically, promote digital diplomacy, and train capacity for diplomatic staff and local officials working in foreign affairs and economic diplomacy. The Minister proposed that the TBI Institute support the Diplomatic Academy in connecting with prestigious research and training institutions in the UK in the coming time.

Sharing the opinions of Minister Bui Thanh Son, Mr. Tony Blair expressed his pleasure in visiting Vietnam again and witnessing the impressive changes in Vietnam's socio-economic situation. Mr. Tony Blair affirmed that the UK wishes to promote and further deepen the cooperative relationship with Vietnam, a country with rich potential, full of charm, and an important partner of the UK in the region. Mr. Tony Blair personally will continue to make efforts to contribute to the further development of the Vietnam - UK relationship in all areas.

Mr. Tony Blair highly appreciated Vietnam's strong and substantial efforts to promote sustainable growth, reduce emissions, energy transition, digital transformation, diversify markets and economic and investment partners. Mr. Tony Blair said that Vietnam has a lot of potential to promote international cooperation in attracting resources for green growth and renewable energy development, building an international financial center, attracting investment from the Middle East region on the basis of specific cooperation plans and projects. He recommended that Vietnam focus on improving the quality of education and training, building advanced university education as a foundation for sustainable development, following the experience of the UK and many other countries.

Mr. Tony Blair expressed his hope that in the coming time, the TBI Institute will continue to promote exchange and cooperation activities with a number of Vietnamese ministries and sectors in a number of areas of mutual interest./.

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