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

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

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 to foster economic-trade-investment activities, particular when Viet Nam is integrating into the world economy and the pending Viet Nam – EU free trade agreement is expected to open up new opportunities for the business circles in both countries.

The UK values its cooperative ties with Viet Nam 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 politics-diplomacy, education-training, science-technology, defence security, as well as regional and global issues of shared concern.