45th anniversary of Vietnam-UK ties celebrated in HCM City
A ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations and the 92nd birthday of Queen Elizabeth II was held on June 4 by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in collaboration with the Vietnam-UK Friendship Association (VUFA)’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City.
HCM City (VNA) – A ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary ofVietnam-UK diplomatic relations and the 92nd birthday of QueenElizabeth II was held on June 4 by the Vietnam Union of FriendshipOrganisations (VUFO) in collaboration with the Vietnam-UK FriendshipAssociation (VUFA)’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City.
Chairman of the VUFA-HCM City Tran Hung Viet expressed his respect for theQueen and delivered the best wishes to her on the 92nd birthday.
Vietnam and the UK have enjoyed a fruitful relationship which has been reflectedthrough regular exchange of high-ranking delegations, sound bilateral trade,and robust cooperation between enterprises from both sides.
On the occasion, Viet thanked the UK General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City andthe UK Business Association in Vietnam for their close cooperation and supportfor the VUFA-HCM City so that it can well perform the role of connecting peoplefrom both sides in the fields of culture and education.
The association committed further contributions to bolstering people-to-peopleexchanges between Ho Chi Minh City and the UK, helping enhance the traditionalrelationship between the two countries, he noticed.
UK Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Ian Gibbons, for his part, thanked the HoChi Minh City chapter of the VUFO for organising the event, highlighting that 2017was a successful year for Vietnam-UK bilateral ties when Vietnam welcomed manydelegations from the UK.
More UK high-ranking officials will pay visit to Vietnam in the coming time totighten the cooperative relations between the two countries, he said.
People-to-people exchange through education is one of the most significantaspects in the bilateral ties, he underscored, lauding the VUFA-HCM City’sefforts in promoting the good friendship between the two sides.
As of April 2018, Vietnam and the UK enjoyed over 2 billion USD in two-waytrade, with 1.75 billion USD of which coming from Vietnamese exports.
Last year, 285,000 British people visited Vietnam, including 116,000 arrivalsto Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, there are more than 10,000 Vietnamese studentspursuing study in the UK.-VNA
The UK Embassy in Vietnam and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training held a seminar on the two countries’ cooperation in occupational skills education and training on Jan. 17 in Hanoi.
Tra fish exports to the UK were worth 45.7 million USD last year, an increase of 2.5 percent over the previous year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.
The Vietnamese Association in the UK elected a 25-member executive board, including one President and four Vice Presidents during its eighth Congress in London on April 8.
Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can and UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever have agreed to strengthen the Vietnam-UK customs partnership through the signing of a letter of intent on possibilities of cooperation, heading to a governmental-level deal in the field.
Vietnam enjoyed a 1.5 billion USD trade surplus with the UK for the first four months of 2018 as the country exported 1.75 billion USD worth of goods to the market and imported 238 million USD.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich had bilateral meetings with defence officials of New Zealand, the UK and Singapore on June 1 on the sidelines of the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Over the past five decades, the Vietnam - Angola relationship has grown steadily, marked by political trust and close bonds between their Parties, States, Governments, and peoples, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
At the celebration (Photo: VNA) 
