Expressing his delight at the growing ties between the UK and Vietnam over the years, McFall affirmed his willingness to support Vietnam and the Vietnamese Embassy in implementing activities to promote bilateral friendship and strategic partnership in the time to come, including the exchange of delegations and bilateral cooperation through the parliamentary channel. He hailed Vietnam’s efforts in fighting COVID-19.
For his part, Ambassador Long reviewed major milestones in the Vietnam-UK relationship over the past 50 years, including the issuance of the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership: Development Orientation in the Next 10 Years", and the signing of the bilateral free trade agreement (UKVFTA) in 2020.
Both sides reached important agreements during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and a working visit to the UK from October 31 to November 3, he noted, adding that during the visit, the two countries defined science-technology, renewable energy and green finance as priorities in their cooperation in the time to come.
On the occasion, the Vietnamese diplomat suggested that McFall assist Vietnam in implementing major cooperation programmes and projects and enhancing the legal capacity, while increasing the exchange of parliamentarian delegations.
Over the years, the parliaments of Vietnam and the UK have enjoyed effective collaboration, especially through the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
Recently, the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by head of the NA Science, Technology and Environment Committee Le Quang Huy attended the COP26 Parliamentary Meeting and met with head of the parliamentarians’ delegation. In October last year, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the APPG held the first dialogue via videoconference with the theme of “cooperation in green economic development post-COVID-19”. Despite COVID-19 impacts, both sides have maintained exchanges and sped up cooperation programmes.
