Mark Field, Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific of the Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and North Ireland, said that trade and investment will continue to be among the pillars in the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership. 
The political consultation held in Hanoi on Jan 2. Photo: VNS
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Politics supports economic ties
The Vietnam-UK deputy foreign minister-level political consultation took place in Hanoi on January 2 as part of the two countries’ efforts to boost the comprehensive bilateral ties.
The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Mark Field.
Mark Field said that the UK pledged to boost ties with Vietnam in terms of education, technologies, smart cities, and cyberspace after the UK leaves the European Union or the so-called Brexit.
Officials at the event agreed on concrete measures to develop the partnership in a more intensive and effective manner, mostly in politics-diplomacy, security-defense, trade-investment, education-training, climate resilience, and tourism.
In addition, the two sides will exchange their views on regional and international issues of shared concern, including marine disputes in the South China Sea, to which Vietnam refers as the East Sea.
Mark Field, UK's Foreign State Minister. Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam
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The UK has also helped Vietnam improve qualifications for Vietnamese customs, fight against human trafficking, clean up unexploded ordnances, and launch initiatives against the wrong use of antibiotics.
Education will be one of the central points ahead with the exchanges and connection among the two countries’ universities and research institutes. At present, 12,000 Vietnamese are studying in the UK, spending roughly US$400 million/year, according to the World University Ranking.
Meanwhile, more and more British visitors come to Vietnam, reaching 276,000 in last year’s 11-month period.
