London (VNA) – Vietnam and the UK welcomed the sustained progress intheir strategic partnership, and stressed support for the rules-basedinternational order, free trade, sustainable economic growth, education andcultural exchanges at their 7th strategic dialogue in London on July2.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung and Minister ofState for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Harriett Baldwin showed delight thatthey discussed the full range of bilateral and international issues, includingthose relating to human rights.

They affirmed that the two countries strongly advocate global free trade, laudthe signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on June 30, and lookforward to the continuity of trade relations after the UK leaves the EU(Brexit), including through transitioning the EVFTA.

The diplomats discussed the UK’s proposal on transitioning the ComprehensivePartnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which will boost the relationshipbetween Vietnamese and UK firms for enhanced competition and productivity.

Vietnam and the UK are committed to working together in multilateral forums.The UK welcomes Vietnam’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN SecurityCouncil, and both sides expect close cooperation in maintaining internationalpeace and security during Vietnam’s tenure, covering women, peace and security;post-conflict reconstruction; and global non-proliferation mechanisms comprisingdisarmament, de-mining, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, andresolution of regional issues such as the de-nuclearisation of the Koreanpeninsula.

They reached consensus on close collaboration during Vietnam’s Chairmanship ofASEAN in 2020. They will work together to prepare for the COP 26 Climate ChangeConference to strengthen commitments to reducing emissions and increasing theuse of renewable energy in Vietnam.

Sharing views on recent developments in the East Sea, both sides expressedsupport for the peaceful solutions of any dispute in the waters on the basis ofinternational law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS),helping promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

They supported the establishment of a new Joint Serious Organised Crime WorkingGroup to coordinate policy development and project delivery in areas of modernslavery, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and illegal transfer ofgoods through customs.

The signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Border Forceand the General Department of Vietnam Customs, as well as the review andevaluation of the Returns MoU between the UK Home Office and the VietnameseMinistry of Public Security will reinforce the importance of cooperation onthese issues.

Both sides welcomed increased cooperation in defence,in particular the initiation of the Defence Policy Dialogue, high-level defencerelated visits and cooperation on UN Peacekeeping, including the deployment ofthe Vietnamese level 2 field hospital in South Sudan.
They acknowledged the key role of education in the relationshipand welcomed the renewal of the decision establishing the educational andcultural status of the British Council in Vietnam. They also emphasised theimportance of strengthening bilateral cultural diplomacy to deepen the bondsbetween the two countries.

Earlier, Deputy FM To Anh Dung had a working session with UK Prime Minister’sTrade Envoy to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Ed Vaizey on July 1, during whichthey agreed to boost cooperation to ensure that trade and economic activitieswill not be affected by Brexit.

Vaizey expressed his hope that Vietnam and the UK will soon ink a bilateraltrade deal on the basis of the EVFTA’s framework.-VNA