Vietnam-UK: Political trust enhanced, cooperation expanded

According to a VNA reporter in London, on October 29, a series of British news sites and newspapers simultaneously reported on important agreements reached by Vietnam and the UK during General Secretary To Lam 's visit to London.

Vietnam and the UK have agreed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership, aiming to promote joint cooperation in defense, security, trade, climate and economic growth.

This agreement was reached on the afternoon of October 29, during talks between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and General Secretary To Lam.

The "Joint Statement on Upgrading the UK-Vietnam Relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" posted on gov.uk (the official information portal of the UK Government) affirms: (1) Over the more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973 and 15 years since the strategic partnership framework was adopted in 2010, Vietnam and the UK have built a strong and long-lasting partnership, based on mutual respect and a shared vision of a secure, prosperous and sustainable future; (2) On the occasion of General Secretary To Lam's official visit to the UK from October 28-30, 2025 at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the two leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, strengthening cooperation on six key pillars, covering all areas from politics, diplomacy, defense-security, to economics, science, environment, regional and international issues...

According to Reuters, the joint statement shows that the partnership between Vietnam and the UK will be enhanced in political trust, economic cooperation, science and technology, and expanded to areas such as energy and education.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation and maritime security surveillance through training, technology transfer and port visits, and called for peaceful resolution of disputes in the East Sea.

Morningstaronline.co.uk assessed that the focus of General Secretary To Lam's visit to the UK is to promote trade, enhance cooperation in research, sustainable development, science and response to climate change.

On the UK side, it should be noted that the UK's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP, including Vietnam) in December 2024 is considered the UK's largest trade deal since leaving the European Union (Brexit).

The two leaders also signed a migration agreement that the UK Prime Minister’s Office described as “the strongest migration agreement” the Vietnamese Government has ever signed with a single country and reinforces a previous agreement signed with the UK (in 2024) to reduce the flow of migrants from Vietnam crossing the English Channel to the UK.

Receiving General Secretary To Lam at the White Room of the British Prime Minister's Office (where international guests are received), Prime Minister Starmer said he was very pleased that the two countries could sign this migration agreement, which would make cooperation on migration faster, more effective and have a real impact on many people.

According to ein.org.uk, the British Government said the agreement is part of a wider international cooperation framework, including agreements with France, Iraq and countries in the Western Balkans, to manage illegal immigration and support legal repatriation./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-anh-long-tin-chinh-tri-duoc-tang-cuong-hop-tac-duoc-mo-rong-post1074116.vnp