(VOVworld) - At a meeting on Wednesday with Eleanor Laing, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, as part of a working visit to the UK, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong thanked the British government for past ODA and said Vietnam hopes to get more support from the UK to improve its business environment, respond to climate change, and build infrastructure.

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong and Deputy Speaker of the UK’s House of Commons Eleanor Laing and President of the All-Party Parliamentary Group George Howard (at the center). (Photo: Do Sinh/Vietnam+)

Madam Phong said she hopes British parliamentarians will support the early adoption of the European-Vietnam free trade agreement and support Vietnam in multinational forums like the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

She also urged the UK to help train young Vietnamese parliamentarians.

The same day at a reception for an All-Party Parliamentary Group delegation led by its President George Howard, Madam Phong answered questions and reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy that all parties involved East Sea disputes should respect the status quo, refrain from using or threatening to use armed force, and respect freedom of navigation, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

According to Madam Phong, Vietnam considers the fight against saltwater intrusion a national priority and is doing its utmost to find solutions with the assistance of other countries, including the UK.