UK PM Cameron looks to strong ties with Vietnam

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and UK PM David Cameron, Ha Noi, July 29, 2015> Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Mr. Cameron, who became the first UK PM to visit Viet Nam, spoke highly of the Southeast Asian country’s achievements in socio-economic development and international integration.

The two PMs welcomed deep and wide advancements in the bilateral ties, especially in such fields like politics-diplomacy, trade and investment, development cooperation, and education.

The two sides acknowledged an increase in the number and scope of mutual visits between the two countries and agreed to further enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, effectively operate the existing dialogue mechanisms on politics-security-defense, trade and investment.

Both sides reiterated that economic cooperation remains an important pillar of the Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership, vowing to encourage and create favorable conditions for their investors to enhance contacts and partnership, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, finance-banking, insurance, petroleum, green growth through direct investment, joint-ventures, and public-private partnership.

The UK PM voiced his support for Viet Nam to boost comprehensive cooperation with the European Union and for early conclusion of the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement. He believed that the agreement would open up new trade and investment opportunities for both countries.

The two PMs agreed to expand education and training cooperation, accelerate the effectiveness of the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education (located in Da Nang City), and work toward the establishment of the Viet Nam-UK University.

PM Dung welcomed the UK’s continued assistance for English training and for the Ministry of Education and Training to build a Center for English Testing and Quality Assessment in Viet Nam.

The two leaders emphasized the prospect of science and technology cooperation through the Newton Program Viet Nam which was signed by British Ambassador to Viet Nam Giles Lever and Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan last moth.

The Newton Program offers a wide range of funding opportunities for both Vietnamese and UK scientists, researchers and other stakeholders including science managers and innovative businesses. Activities will be focused around: People, with research capacity-building and fellowships; research, with collaborative research projects on development challenges; and translation, with training and partnerships to turn research into practical applications and development solutions.

They agreed to intensify cooperation in fighting organized and transnational crime, terrorism while effectively deploying the Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides expressed their concern over the recent tensions in the East Sea, particularly the large-scale construction activities aimed at changing the status quo of reefs. These activities threaten peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in the region.

Both sides re-affirmed their common position of settling territorial disputes through peaceful measures without taking actions that may further complicate the situation. Relevant sides must avoid the threat and use of force, comply with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and strive for early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing ceremony of some agreements on aviation, finance, petroleum cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

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