Vietnam and the UK on November 21 signed a memorandum of understanding to combat human trafficking, according to Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. To Lam (R) and UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid at the signing ceremony. 

The MoU was inked by Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. To Lam and UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid during Lam’s working visit to the European nation.

During their talks, Javid valued the two ministries’ cooperation over the past years, especially in the fight against organized and trans-nation crimes, human trafficking and high-tech crimes.

Minister Lam pointed out that the Vietnamese government always pays attention to developing Vietnam’s relations with the UK and considers it one of the priorities in the country’s foreign policy for peace, cooperation and development.

In September 2010, Vietnam and the UK signed a joint statement on the establishment of a “strategic partnership”, in which diplomacy, security and defense are the three main pillars.

Lam added that Vietnam appreciated the comprehensive collaboration between Vietnam and the UK, especially in diplomacy, security, defense, economics, trade, culture, health, education and training, environment and climate change response.

During the talks, both sides agreed that the two ministries have coordinated closely in combating crimes, thus helping safeguard the national security and social safety and order in both countries.

To raise the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation, both sides agreed to maintain all-level delegation exchanges, share information and experience in human trafficking prevention and control, including in investigation, persecution and handover of traffickers, and rescue, protection and repatriation of victims.

The two sides will also speed up negotiations towards the signing of an agreement of extradition of convicts and other cooperative agreements between the two ministries.

Hanoitimes