Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with his UK counterpart David Cameron in Hanoi on July 29, focusing on a range of measures to beef up cooperative ties in various fields.

The two leaders spoke highly of strengthened relations in a number of realms such as politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, development cooperation, and education-training, as well as the increasing number of bilateral visits in recent years.

They agreed to facilitate the exchange of visits at all levels and effectively implement existing dialogue mechanisms in the fields of politics, national defence-security, economics and trade.

Sharing the view that economic coordination is a key pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership, both sides pledged all possible support for their business communities to explore each other’s markets and form linkages, especially in infrastructure, finance-banking, insurance, oil and gas and green growth via direct investment, joint-venture and public-private partnership models.

PM Cameron affirmed that the UK backs Vietnam’s efforts to reinforce comprehensive ties with the European Union (EU) and the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU, adding that the deal will definitely open up new trade and investment opportunities for businesses of the two nations.

Referring to education-training cooperation, both leaders vowed to improve operations of the Vietnam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, towards establishing the Vietnam-UK University with international standards in the central city of Da Nang.

The Vietnamese PM welcomed the UK’s continued assistance in English teaching, building an English examination centre and launching an English popularisation project until 2020 in the national education system.

Underscoring science-technology cooperation prospect via the Newton Research Collaboration Programme – a component of the UK Newton Fund, they hoped that the fund will be utilised and help produce feasible innovation ideas.

The two sides concurred to reinforce cooperation in preventing organised and transnational crime and terrorism. They agreed to effectively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation and consider the signing of cooperation agreements on personnel training, defence industry and peacekeeping.

The two PMs were unanimous in close coordination at international forums and organisations such as the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and within the ASEAN-EU framework.

They affirmed to continue collaboration in responding to climate change and preparing for their attendance at the UN Climate Change Conference COP 21 in Paris with a view to accelerating the signing of a common agreement in line with principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global matters of mutual concern. With regard to the East Sea issue, they voiced concerns over recent tensions in the sea, especially large-scaled construction, expansion and changing of the status quo of reefs in the East Sea, which have threatened peace, stability and safety and freedom of navigation in the region.

Both sides emphasised their common stance on peacefully settling regional territorial disputes, avoiding actions that could complicate the situation, not using force or threatening to use force, complying with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and striving to complete a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

PM Cameron invited PM Dung to visit the UK and the Vietnamese leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Following their talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements on aviation, finance and oil and gas between the countries’ businesses.

Party chief welcomes UK Prime Minister

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for UK Prime Minister David Cameron in Hanoi on July 29, stressing that his visit was a significant milestone since the two countries established diplomatic ties 42 years ago.

The host hailed the positive developments in Vietnam-UK ties since they established their strategic partnership in September 2010.

He expressed hope that the UK leader’s visit will improve mutual understanding and strengthen relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and UK political parties, and promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education and training.

The Party leader said he hoped that the UK would continue raising its positive voice for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

PM Cameron, for his part, declared that the UK Government treasures ties with Vietnam and considers Vietnam one of its important partners.

The UK will step up efforts to deliver on commitments in priority fields mentioned in the joint statement on the establishment of Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, he said.

Both host and guest identified economic-trade and investment links as a focus of the bilateral relationship and stressed the need to intensify ties between political parties and legislatures.

The UK leader stated confidently that ties between the two countries will further develop in the coming time for mutual interests and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

President Truong Tan Sang greets UK Prime Minister

State President Truong Tan Sang spoke highly of cooperative relations between Vietnam and the UK in the fields of politics, economics and defence-security during a meeting with the visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron in Hanoi on July 29.

The State President expressed his belief that trade relations between the two countries will be lifted up when Vietnam and the European Union (EU) signs their free trade agreement (FTA).

He also thanked the UK for its support in the East Sea issue that has contributed to maintaining peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region.

For his part, UK Prime Minister Cameron underscored that the planned EU-Vietnam FTA has a crucial role in consolidating trade relations between Vietnam and the UK.

The stable investment climate in Vietnam will create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises to land their investment in the country, Cameron said, hoping that two sides will further cooperation to attract more investments.

The UK will maintain its support for Vietnam through international organisations such as the World Bank (WB), he added.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the UK Prime Minister said that the UK’s stance is clear as stated in the declaration of the Group of Seven (G7).

VNA/VNN