The PM welcomed the visit by the UK diplomat which follows the successful visit by Prime Minister David Cameron in May 2015. He expressed his pleasure at the sound and intensive cooperation between the two countries that is based on a bilateral strategic partnership. He lauded the development in the two nations’ Strategic Partnership, but noted that the trade turnover that reached US$5.4 billion in 2015 is not matching with the teo countries' potential and expectation.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond
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He also proposed the UK Government step up the official signing and ratification of the EVFTA to actualise the pact’s benefits and contribute to deepening the relations between Vietnam and the EU, including the UK. He suggested potential realms for future cooperation and called on the UK Govenrment to continue support for high-quality human resources and English teaching in Vietnam, while creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese students to study in the UK.
The Government leader hailed the statement at the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, pertaining to the East Sea issue for the common goal of ensuring navigation and aviation safety and avoiding actions that raise tensions in the region and run counter with international law. He asked the UK Government to pay more attention to and persuade the EU to have a stronger voice in requesting China to respect international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as settle any disputes via peaceful means, without use of force or threats to use force, and end any actions to change the status quo of the East Sea.
PM Phuc expected that the British enterprises will pour more investment in Viet Nam in their advantageous areas such as finance, banking, infrastructure, insurance, science and technology. He proposed the British Government continue training high-quality human resources and teach English in Viet Nam and make it easier for Vietnamese students to study and work in the UK.
It is imperative to stop the reclamation and construction of artificial islands and militarisation in the East Sea, while implementing earnestly and fully the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and forge ahead with negotiations to build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), he said.
The UK Foreign Secretary also took the opportunity to congratulate Nguyen Xuan Phuc on his election as new Prime Minister. He told the host that the UK is ranked second among EU countries in investment in Vietnam, saying the signing of the EVFTA will facilitate comprehensive cooperation between the two nations in the future.
The two countries could coordinate to cope with challenges in economic development such as anti-corruption and public administrative management. The UK is also willing to cooperate with Vietnam in climate change adaptation as well as in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, he said.
The UK is the second largest EU investor in Viet Nam, said the UK Foreign Secretary, adding that the signing of the EVFTA will facilitate and strengthen the relations between Viet Nam and the UK in the future. He suggested the two sides coordinate to cope with challenges during the economic development process such as anti-corruption and public administrative management, adding that the UK is willing to cooperate with Viet Nam in response to climate change and the trafficking of rare animals. The British Government will finance GBP 500 million for British enterprises to invest in Viet Nam, he revealed.
