Hanoi, October 26, 2024 – The Europe Today: Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam Lê Thị Thu Hằng and UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, co-chaired the 10th Việt Nam-UK Strategic Dialogue on Thursday, underscoring the robust development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership across multiple sectors, including politics, trade, security, education, and climate response.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the partnership’s progress and reaffirmed a commitment to deepen ties. Hằng emphasized Việt Nam’s dedication to bolstering the partnership, acknowledging the UK’s recent support of 1 million GBP for Typhoon Yagi relief efforts. West, noting Việt Nam’s rapid development and pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific, stressed the UK’s strong interest in Việt Nam as a key partner.
The dialogue concluded with an agreement to enhance cooperation through delegation exchanges and ongoing frameworks like the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) and the defence policy dialogue. Efforts will focus on leveraging benefits from the UK-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), encouraging UK investments in renewable energy, finance, infrastructure, and digital transformation.
West also commended Việt Nam’s ratification of the UK’s CPTPP accession, facilitating trade and investment expansion. In line with Việt Nam’s commitment to zero emissions by 2050, the UK pledged support through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and specific cooperation projects under the Resources Mobilisation Plan (RMP) for green development.
New science and technology frameworks, established between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will drive cooperation in health, agriculture, and digital transformation. The UK plans to further educational collaborations, expanding the Chevening scholarship and British Council initiatives.
Cultural exchange and people-to-people ties will continue to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations, with particular emphasis on the Vietnamese community in the UK.
Security discussions built on recent talks between Minister of Public Security Lương Tam Quang and UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, aiming to enhance collaboration against organised crime, illegal migration, and human trafficking.
Defence cooperation saw positive developments, including British naval visits and English language training for Vietnamese peacekeepers. Both sides committed to advancing military cooperation in maritime security, hydrography, and within the UN Peacekeeping Force (PKO) framework.
The two countries reiterated support for ASEAN’s role in regional security and international norms, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and expressed concern over escalating global tensions. They stressed the need for peaceful, sustainable solutions rooted in the UN Charter.
The dialogue culminated with the adoption of the Việt Nam-UK Action Plan (2024–2026), setting priorities in diplomacy, sustainable growth, science, defence, and equal rights, reinforcing a comprehensive strategic partnership to tackle global and regional challenges.
