Vietnam proposes UK transfer COVID-19 vaccine production technology
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on May 19 held phone talks with British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab, during which he suggested that the UK consider the transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology to Vietnam.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son holds phone talks with British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on May 19 heldphone talks with British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth andDevelopment Affairs Dominic Raab, during which he suggested that the UK consider thetransfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology to Vietnam.
Raab again congratulated Son on his appointment to the post of ForeignMinister, believing that with his experience, Son will help the Vietnamesediplomatic sector reap more successes.
Son affirmed that during the implementation of its foreignpolicy of the 13th National Party Congress, Vietnam always attachesimportance to and wants to promote its strategic partnership with the UK in amore practical and effective manner.
He congratulated the UK on its important achievements incontrolling the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in leading Europe and the worldin deploying COVID-19 vaccinations. He proposed the UK create more favorableconditions for vaccine supply and consider facilitating the transfer of vaccineproduction technology to Vietnam.
The British minister congratulated Vietnam onsuccessfully assuming the role as ASEAN Chair in 2020, and thanked Vietnam for supporting the UK in its efforts to become a Dialogue Partner of ASEAN as well as itsaccession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP).
He said that the UK wants to continue working closely withVietnam at multilateral forums, especially when Vietnam holds the position as anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021term.
Raab emphasised the importance of complying with internationallaw, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), forpeace and stability in the region and the world.
The two sides agreed to soon resume delegation exchanges andmeetings of key cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Economic and TradeCommittee (JETCO) and defence dialogue.
They also discussed international and regional issues ofcommon concern and agreed to work closely to ensure the success of the 26th UNClimate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), hosted by the UK in November.
They highlighted the central role of ASEAN, and supported measures to promotedialogue and finding a long-term solution to the Myanmar situation./.
Vietnam will announce to the UK side its ratification of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) this month, so the deal can officially come into force from May 1.
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom Dominic Raab is on a visit to Indonesia and Brunei on April 7-9 to consolidate trade and security ties as well as promote cooperation in addressing global challenges with the two nations.
Vietnam is now increasingly emerging as a regional middle power, especially in the global supply chain and development of 5G technology, according to an article published by the UK’s website strifeblog.org on April 13.
The UK – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which will take effect on May 1, is expected to open up opportunities for UK health care companies to navigate the Vietnamese market.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
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.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son holds phone talks with British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Raab (Photo: VNA) 
