Over the past five decades since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973 and after 15 years of implementing the Strategic Partnership framework established in 2010, Vietnam and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have built a strong and long-term partnership, based on mutual respect and a shared vision of a secure, prosperous and sustainable future.
The official visit of General Secretary To Lam is not only an important foreign event, but also clearly demonstrates Vietnam's respect for traditional Western European partners, including the UK, in Vietnam's foreign policy and comprehensive international integration process.
Mr. Iain Frew, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Vietnam, said that this is a very important visit, marking a new step in the development of the relationship between the two countries to a higher level. This is also the first visit of the General Secretary of Vietnam to the UK in 13 years - a historic and very important event. Ambassador Iain Frew expressed his confidence that with partners like the UK, together with seizing opportunities and overcoming global challenges, Vietnam is fully capable of continuing to succeed and realizing its great aspirations and potential in this new stage of development.
During the official visit, General Secretary To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation had many important activities, notably talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, meetings with British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, representatives of the British Royal Family, the House of Lords, the House of Commons, and major political parties in the UK. The General Secretary also delivered an important policy speech at Oxford University; met and discussed with representatives of the business community, leading corporations in the UK, experts and scholars in science and technology, and met with representatives of the community and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK.
During the discussion, British leaders and partners expressed their impression of Vietnam's great achievements in all aspects, showing their respect for Vietnam's position and role in the Asia-Pacific region as well as many issues of interest to the international community. British partners expressed their readiness to soon implement the agreed contents, share information, experience, knowledge and expertise in diverse fields, from finance, science and technology, innovation, to healthcare, green finance, clean energy and disaster risk reduction.
At the talks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer congratulated Vietnam on its recent achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and General Secretary To Lam; emphasizing that Vietnam is a dynamic, highly open economy that is playing an increasingly important role in the Asia-Pacific region and is one of the UK's leading important partners in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
During the visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on upgrading the Vietnam-UK relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Accordingly, the two sides will strengthen cooperation on six main pillars: Strengthening political, diplomatic, defense and security cooperation; strengthening economic, trade, investment and financial cooperation; strengthening cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and health; cooperation in environment, energy and green transformation; strengthening cooperation in education, culture, sports, tourism, people-to-people exchange, equal rights and other areas; and strengthening coordination on regional and international issues.
The two sides agreed to establish a Vietnam-UK Clean Energy Partnership between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant UK agencies, to accelerate the transition to low-carbon and resilient economies in both countries; and support the implementation of projects within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Vietnam and the UK affirmed that education and training are the pillars of sustainable growth and human development; welcomed the signing of the Letter of Intent and agreed to continue to coordinate towards the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministries of Education in the coming time. The two sides agreed to promote academic exchanges and encourage the establishment of new joint programs, strengthen cooperation between higher education, vocational training and secondary education institutions through the exchange of lecturers, researchers and students, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.
The highlight of the official visit was that General Secretary To Lam met with the Board of Directors of Oxford University and delivered an important speech there. The General Secretary shared that Vietnam has chosen a very clear direction: science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and knowledge economy will be the main growth drivers in the coming period. Vietnam is strongly promoting the national digital transformation strategy, developing the digital economy, green economy, circular economy, low-carbon economy; considering innovation not only as a pure scientific laboratory, but also as the vitality of the economy, national competitiveness, and the ability to withstand geopolitical and geo-economic shocks. Vietnam considers the UK not only as a trade partner, an educational partner, a partner in science and technology, but also as a long-term strategic partner to jointly shape cooperation standards in the 21st century.
The General Secretary said that the two sides need a new, practical, measurable cooperation model that directly benefits the people of the two countries. It is a combination of the UK's strengths in basic science, applied science, high technology, biomedicine, public health, higher education, urban management, energy transition, and financial services with the needs of digital transformation, green transformation, improving the quality of human resources, innovating development governance, and perfecting the socialist-oriented market economic institution in Vietnam.
At meetings with UK businesses, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the Party, State and People of Vietnam are committed to always "accompanying" and wish to continue receiving support and close cooperation from international friends and partners in the role of bridging and promoting foreign investors, especially British investors, in the process of building and developing the country.
Upon arriving in the UK, General Secretary To Lam and his wife Ngo Phuong Ly, along with the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, laid a wreath at the tomb of proletarian leader Karl Marx at Highgate Cemetery in London, showing respect for the great philosopher and theorist of scientific socialism.
General Secretary To Lam and his wife spent time meeting with the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in the UK, along with representatives of associations and officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, demonstrating the great concern of the Party and State for the Vietnamese community abroad, strengthening the great national unity bloc and encouraging them to continue promoting patriotism, actively integrating into the host society, and turning towards the Fatherland.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized that in the coming time, the two countries will focus on promoting proposals and initiatives in cooperation between the UK's strengths in developing international financial centers, innovation, telecommunications, sustainable energy conversion, high technology, biomedicine... with the needs of digital transformation, green transformation, improving the quality of human resources, and innovating development governance in Vietnam; strengthening connections and close coordination in international and regional forums to contribute to peace, stability and development in the regions and the world.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said it is necessary to implement measures to improve the effectiveness of important work in other areas such as cultural exchange and work with Vietnamese people in the UK, thereby further promoting the role of these areas to promote friendship, understanding and an increasingly deep and solid foundation for cooperation between Vietnam and the UK.
The visit is one of Vietnam's important foreign affairs activities in 2025, helping to affirm the stature of the Vietnam - UK relationship in the overall foreign policy of each country, especially in the current volatile and challenging world context.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/viet-nam-vuong-quoc-anh-dinh-hinh-cac-chuan-muc-hop-tac-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-20251031162323953.htm
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