Defence cooperation forms pillar of Vietnam-UK strategic partnership
Defence cooperation has become a key pillar of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, said Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung at a ceremony in London on December 4 to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the 35 years of the All-People Defence Festival.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Do Minh Hung speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)
London (VNA) – Defence cooperation has become a key pillar of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, said Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung at a ceremony in London on December 4 to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the 35 years of the All-People Defence Festival.
In his remarks, Hung said Vietnam’s defence is of the people, by the people, for the people, with peaceful, independent, self-reliant, self-defensive characteristics and proactivity in preventing and addressing the risks of war.
The ambassador affirmed the country consistently adheres to its “Four No’s” policy – not participating in military alliances, not affiliating with one country to oppose another, not allowing foreign countries to establish military bases or use Vietnamese territory to oppose other countries, and not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.
He stressed that defence diplomacy has become an important channel for building and strengthening strategic trust between Vietnam and its partners while expanding the nation’s friendship relations with the international community.
On Vietnam-UK defence cooperation, Hung pointed out bilateral achievements in areas such as peacekeeping, military medicine, disaster relief, maritime security, and defence industry collaboration for the benefits of both nations, for regional peace and security, and the settlement of global challenges.
Next year, the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership will offer an opportunity to deepen the bilateral ties, including in defence, he noted.
Colonel Vu Vinh Ha, Vietnam's Defence Attaché to the UK, also addressed the gathering, expressing his honour to serve during a period of flourishing relations between the two nations and their defence ministries. The officer pledged to strengthen his office’s role as an advisory body and communication channel, facilitating bilateral cooperation opportunities and further enriching the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership.
𝕴 At the ceremony, attendees were introduced to the VPA’s history, development, and achievements through a video presentation and enjoyed distinctive Vietnamese dishes./.
Vietnam earned 6.4 billion USD from exports to the UK in the first 10 months of this year, marking a year-on-year rise of 22%, reported the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office covering the Indo Pacific Catherine West co-chaired the 10th Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue in Hanoi on October 24.
Vietnam and the UK have new opportunities to strengthen their already robust cooperation over the past decades based on the solid foundation of the strategic partnership, said Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Catherine West.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
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.
