Nation to enjoy the best of British

During a visit to the United Kingdom last week, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague clinched a UK-Vietnam Joint Declaration to upgrade the relation between Vietnam and the UK to strategic partnership, creating a framework to comprehensively develop bilateral relations.

“They  [the two countries] commit to intensifying cooperation in existing areas, and expanding into new ones, and work to encourage greater cooperation and interchange between the peoples and societies more generally,” said the declaration.

The partnership will cover political and diplomatic cooperation, global and regional issues, trade and investment, sustainable socio-economic development cooperation, education, training, science and technology, security and defence, and people-to-people links.

For example, as for trade and investment cooperation, “The UK continues to support Vietnam in enhancing economic and trade ties with the EU. In that light, mindful of the incrementally consolidated market economy mechanism in Vietnam, the UK commits to support the EU’s early recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status subject to it meeting the established EU criteria.

Both sides will work to explore ways and means toward a possible negotiation of a World Trade Organization-compatible Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU,” stated the declaration.

The two sides also welcomed and support Vietnam Airlines’ intention to begin direct flights between London and Vietnam, possibly by the end of 2011, which would have a  favourable effect on trade and investment as well as tourism and education relations.

“The agreement with Vietnam is yet another example of the UK’s commitment to pursuing an active foreign policy with emerging powers around the world.

This partnership will bring more direct links between our universities, closer cooperation on serious and organised crime and will continue our frank dialogue on human rights. It is also a real boost for British businesses looking to invest in Vietnam,” Hague said.

In 2009, the two countries’ two-way trade turnover reached $2 billion. The UK’s registered direct investment capital in Vietnam as of August 20, 2010 was $2.19 billion with 131 projects.

Khiem’s visit to the UK is part of his September l7-18 , 2010 visit to the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany and the Czech Republic.