Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung held virtual talks
with the UK's Minister of State Nigel Adams
Vice Minister To Anh Dung held online talks with Nigel Adams, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development of the UK, on July 16
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung
The two officials expressed joy at the strong development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership since its establishment 10 years ago.
Vice Minister Dung praised the UK Government’s efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and initiatives to promote international cooperation in medicine and affirmed that Vietnam is ready to work closely with the UK in those efforts.
He welcomed the UK’s decision to put Vietnam in the list of countries exempt from the UK travel quarantine and proposed that the two countries continue assisting each other in citizen protection.
The Vice Minister affirmed that Vietnam facilitates the entry of foreign diplomats, investors, experts, managers and skilled laborers, including those from the UK, to work in Vietnam.
Mr. Nigel Adams appreciated Vietnam’s medical capacity in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and thanked Vietnamese agencies, doctors and nurses for their care for UK citizens infected with the coronavirus. He noted his hope to further deepen bilateral Viet Nam-UK Strategic Partnership.
The wish was shared by Vice Minister Dung, who suggested the two sides maintain current cooperative mechanisms and actively hold talks toward the early signing of a bilateral free trade agreement.
Minister Adams said the UK valued Vietnam’s role in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, especially in the context of the country concurrently serving as Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
He affirmed the UK's willingness to cooperate and coordinate closely with Vietnam in multilateral frameworks, and the UK's support for the maintenance of peace and stability, and its advocacy for the adherence to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the East Sea.
He also asked Vietnam to support the UK in further promoting its relations with the ASEAN in the post-Brexit time.
Vice Minister Dung appreciated the Vietnam-UK coordination in issues related to peace, security and development, and urged the UK to continue sharing the experience with Vietnam in the UNSC.
The Vietnamese official reiterated that Vietnam welcomes active and constructive efforts of countries to contribute to maintaining peace and stability, and upholding international law, including the UNCLOS, in the East Sea.
As Chair of ASEAN, Vietnam supports outside partners, including the UK, in boosting cooperation with the ASEAN for common interests, thus contributing to promoting the trend of trade liberalization, multilateral cooperation and compliance to international law in the region and the world, Dung said./.
Source: The gioi Viet Nam