This is an important political event, conveying a strong message about a responsible, active and proactive Vietnam in joining hands with the international community in addressing the shared global challenge of climate change. The trip will also contribute to enhancing relations between Vietnam and its strategic partners.
As a large international event gathering more than 120 senior leaders of countries and international organisations, COP26 is expected to open a new page in the global efforts to fight climate change. COP26 features prominently among the international community as climate change is becoming complicated and unpredictable with serious impacts on a global scale, requiring all countries to take urgent and bold action to realise the goal of keeping global temperature rise at a maximum of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century as set out in the Paris Agreement.
As one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, Vietnam has always been proactive and active in responding to climate change and implementing the relevant international commitments. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance at COP26 is also an opportunity for the international community to better understand Vietnam’s policies and efforts, as well as its difficulties and challenges in dealing with climate change.
Within the framework of the conference, the Prime Minister and the Vietnamese delegation will have a host of meetings with leaders of countries, international organisations and important partners to deepen ties with them, especially in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to the world.
As part of the trip, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will have a working visit to the UK. The Vietnam-UK strategic partnership has been developing in a strong and active manner in recent time. Amid the pandemic, the two countries still maintain delegation exchanges and high-level meetings. The UK is Vietnam’s third largest export market in Europe and the 15th largest foreign investor in Vietnam. In ASEAN, Vietnam is the second largest exporter to the UK, accounting for 3.1% of its total imports. The two sides also enhance cooperation in science, technology, healthcare, culture, education, climate change response, clean energy and security-defence.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s working trip is expected to help strengthen the political trust and deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, affirming Vietnam’s policy of maintaining a stable environment to attract foreign investment.
The visit aims to implement the 13th National Party Congress’s foreign policy of continuing to promote and enhance the effectiveness of external relations work and international integration, along with the Secretariat’s Directive 25 on enhancing multilateral external relations until 2030. The activities within the framework of the trip will help enhance cooperation in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry while also implementing vaccine diplomacy.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation will directly attend activities to promote investment, connect Vietnamese and UK enterprises, helping to maintain the global supply and production chains, promote post-pandemic recovery while also introducing Vietnam’s potential and strengths, investment climate, needs and policies. As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation will have a meeting with the Vietnamese community in the UK, encouraging them to overcome difficulties and thanking them for their contributions to the fight against COVID-19 at home.
May Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to attend the COP26 conference and the working trip to the UK be a great success, thereby affirming the message that Vietnam has always been a renewing, proactive, active and responsible member of the international community, joining hands with the world to address global challenges.
