Colonel Vu Van Hung, Deputy Director of the Immigration Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, and Michael Tomlinson, the UK’s Minister for Countering Illegal Migration, signed a Joint Statement of cooperation to reaffirm the two countries’ strong partnership.

Under the new agreement, the two countries committed to strengthen collaboration on deterrence communication campaigns to stop dangerous journeys in small boats. They will also increase intelligence-sharing to tackle visa abuse and continue to facilitate the process for the return of those with no right to remain in the UK.

The two sides will develop a Joint Action Plan in tackling human trafficking to prevent vulnerable people and disrupt people trafficking.

According to the agreement, Vietnam and the UK will continue to maintain direct and effective mechanisms and communication channels to share information, and promote legal routes.