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| British Ambassador Iain Frew shared with World & Vietnam some potential areas of cooperation between the UK and Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: Ben Thanh) |
According to the Ambassador, how can the UK contribute its experience and knowledge to Ho Chi Minh City's green and sustainable development process?
First, I am very pleased to be attending this economic forum held in this city. I think this is a truly significant event for the sustainable development of the economies of both countries. I am also particularly delighted that we are here at a time when Vietnam-UK relations are celebrating 50 years. In that context, I believe this can be considered a milestone marking the cooperation achieved between the UK and Ho Chi Minh City and exploring ways to build and expand that cooperation in the future.
I believe that British expertise can play a crucial role in sustainable economic development. Sustainability is central to what we are doing in Vietnam, with the Ho Chi Minh City government and businesses. This builds on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021.
We are working closely towards that important goal, including collaborating within the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to support the green transition objective. I am pleased that Ho Chi Minh City is also participating in the commitment to zero emissions by 2050. We will support this through energy transition initiatives and businesses that help reduce emissions.
Ambassador, could you please suggest some specific areas of cooperation between our two sides in this field?
At the time of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, we listed several high-priority areas for cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, and to date, both sides have achieved certain results. Our aim is to support the sustainable development of the city in particular, and to create momentum for the next phase of economic development of Vietnam in general.
First, we are working closely together on financial services. This is a strength of Ho Chi Minh City. However, in the context of the city's desire to develop a financial center, the UK can contribute expertise and experience.
This is a promising area for cooperation, given that London, the UK's capital, is a leading international financial center. We are also working to connect UK cities and Ho Chi Minh City to develop a regional support plan.
At the same time, both sides are also working together towards the future of the healthcare and life sciences industry. This is an area where several important British companies have invested in Vietnam, with Ho Chi Minh City currently having great potential for building healthcare and life sciences centers.
Finally, the UK and Ho Chi Minh City are collaborating very closely in the field of education. This is a crucial area for both Vietnam and the UK. British universities and schools are very active in Vietnam, as is the British Council. When I was invited to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this year, I was delighted to learn that we had hosted one of the best international education fairs here.
These are all important areas of cooperation between us. I hope that the UK and Vietnam, as well as Ho Chi Minh City, will continue to cooperate closely, working towards building a sustainable economic future for the benefit of the people of both countries over the next 50 years.
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