Deputy PM hosts UK Foreign Office Minister

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Minh, hailed the success of the fourth Vietnam – UK strategic dialogue during a reception for UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire, in Hanoi on February 27.

UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire (L) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R)
UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire (L) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R)

Both host and guest were pleased with the progress of the bilateral strategic partnership in priority fields, and agreed to facilitate regular high-level visits while working closely at multilateral forums and international organisations, including the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the ASEAN – EU framework.

Both nations are committed to promoting economic-trade-investment activities, particularly as Vietnam is integrating into the world economy and the pending Vietnam – EU free trade agreement is expected to open up new opportunities for business circles in both countries.

The UK values its co-operative ties with Vietnam and wants to continue supporting the country in socio-economic development, Swire said.

During the strategic dialogue earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Swire discussed in-depth initiatives to nurture the bilateral strategic partnership, predominantly in political-diplomacy, education training, science-technology, defense security, as well as regional and global issues of shared concern.