(VOVWORLD) - Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong will attend the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday at the invitation of the Royal Family of the UK. His visit to the UK is an important high-level diplomatic activity, illustrating Vietnam’s respect for the Royal Family of the UK and the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership.
 Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong. (Photo: VNA) |
This is the second visit to the UK by a Vietnamese President in two decades. It takes place with the Vietnam-UK relationship at its best point ever and the two countries organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year.
Outstanding results in bilateral cooperation
Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations in 1973 and a strategic partnership in 2010, and adopted a Joint Statement on the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2020. These milestones have paved the way for several cooperation frameworks and mechanisms, including the Strategic Dialogue, the Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation, and the Vietnam-UK Defense Working Group.
After both countries implemented the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, two-way trade revenues reached 6.8 billion USD last year, up 12.4% from 2021, and three times higher than in 2010 when the two countries established a strategic partnership. The UK is Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in Europe and the ninth largest importer of Vietnamese goods in the world.
In March the UK joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Vietnam is a founding member.
 UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew. (Photo: chinhphu.vn) |
UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew said the CPTPP will complement the bilateral free trade agreement and boost the growing trade relationship between the UK and Vietnam.
Cooperation in education is a highlight of the bilateral relationship. The UK is Vietnam's leading partner, with 23 universities providing 74 transnational education programs, said Ambassador Iain Frew.
“This year we're celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam. And as part of that, we've put a focus on three areas of our relationship where we really want to deepen cooperation and look for opportunities to build new partnerships. And education, sustainability, and trade are those three areas.”
Vietnam and the UK have been steadily strengthening cooperation on global issues, especially climate change response. The two countries are working toward the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). In April, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, through which the UK will give Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos 25 million pounds for biodiversity conservation in the lower Mekong.
Vietnam and the UK both insists on independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in national defense. This is a basis for the two to set goals and promote prosperity.
Sustainable development presents a pillar in Vietnam-UK cooperation
During his UK visit, President Thuong will meet with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as well as leaders of government and parliament, and a number of ministers, to strengthen the good relations between Vietnam and the UK Royal Family and enhance Vietnam-UK political trust. Mr. Thuong will also meet with representatives of leading economic groups, educational institutions, and friendship organizations.
 Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long. |
Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long said, “We can expect giant leaps in the Vietnam-UK relationship in the coming years. President Thuong’s visit will create new momentum for the relationship to develop strongly, deeply, and sustainably.”
UK Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Marcus Winsley said that in the next 50 years, sustainable development will be a pillar of the Vietnam-UK cooperation.
The EU and the UK are working together to support Vietnam's sustainable energy development. In the coming years, about 15 billion USD will be invested in Vietnam's energy transition. This is a difficult issue, but both sides are committed to it.