Vietnamese delegates attend the 7th strategic dialogue with the UK (Photo: VNA)

At their 7^th strategic dialogue in London on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung and UK Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Harriett Baldwin committed to work closely at multilateral forums during Vietnam’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and Chair of ASEAN next year. Vietnam and the UK vowed to work together to prepare for the COP 26 Climate Change Conference and strengthen commitments to reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. Sharing views on recent developments in the East Sea, both sides expressed support for the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Mr. Dung had a working session on Monday with MP Ed Vaizey, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Both sides agreed to boost economic cooperation to ensure that trade and economic activities will not be affected by Brexit. Vaizey said he hopes Vietnam and the UK will soon sign a free trade agreement based on the EVFTA.