Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Network (VUKN) Mark Kent. (Photo: VNA) In an interview granted to the VietnamNews Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondent in the UK, Kent, who worked as British Ambassador to Vietnam in the 2007-2010 tenure, pointed to potential for a modern, forward lookingcollaborative relationship between the two countries.
Kent said he was aware that therewas scope for more cooperation in trade, investment, education, science andtechnology and response to global challenges like climate change as Vietnam wasvulnerable to flooding from rising sea levels.
He also found potential for further people-to- people exchanges, inparticular tourism, given many splendid destinations throughout Vietnam, eventhough at that time there were no direct flights between Vietnam and the UK.
The VUKN Chairman said therelations between the UK and Vietnam have changed dramatically since 2010,adding that the Strategic Partnership established in 2010 was renewed in 2020,and the bilateral relationship is growing stronger, deeper and wider than everbefore.
Trade and investment between thetwo countries have continued to grow thanks to the UK-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (UKVFTA) and now the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with the support ofVietnam.
Kent took the example of Vietnam’simports of Scotch whisky, which grew over 300% in the last three years.
He was also pleased that Britishcompanies are helping Vietnam upgrade its infrastructure to meet the needs ofits growing modern economy.
The VUKN Chairman noted that thetwo countries have enhanced scientific cooperation and are doing much togetherand globally to fight climate change, while collaborating in global securityand peacekeeping, and the fight against organise crime.
He also highlighted cooperationin education, people-to-people exchange, tourism, sports, culture, arts andcuisine.
Ken said his network has donemuch to support people-to-people ties since its establishment 10 years ago,adding that it looks forward to signing a memorandum of cooperation later thisyear with its Vietnamese counterpart, the Vietnam-UK Friendship Association.
To commemorate the50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations, the network will hold a concertin London later this year, bringing together world renowned Vietnamesemusicians.
In another interview with the VNA's reporters, Professor PatrickCallaghan, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University (LSBU), saidVietnam and the UK have great potential for cooperation in education andscience - the areas in which Vietnam has strong interest and for which the UKhas an outstanding reputation.
Professor Patrick Callaghan, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University (Photo: Photo courtesy of Professor Patrick Callaghan) The professor pointed out that bilateral trade nowlargely depends on goods, but it can be extended into other areas in theservice industry which the UK is very strong at.
He suggested the two countries boost theirpartnership through cooperation in science and education, including highereducation, further education and even secondary education.
Callaghan said the two countries’ universities,including LSBU, can collaborate in such key areas as transnational education,doctoral degree training, engineering, health and social care research.
Speaking of cooperation between LSBU and Vietnam, hesaid the number of Vietnamese students choosing to study at LSBU, especially atthe LSBU Business School, has greatly increased in recent years.
The LSBU Business School considers Vietnam a prioritymarket in such areas as student recruitment, transnational education, researchand knowledge transfer, Callaghan said, adding the university is now indiscussion with Vietnamese higher education institutions for collaboration intransnational education, student exchange and research./.
VNA
