Former UK PM vows assistance to Vietnam
Meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on March 4, Blair expressed his optimism about the prospect of cooperation between Tony Blair Office and Vietnamese partners, saying that he would continue joint efforts to successfully develop public-private partnership models, overhaul Vietnamese SOEs and stimulate foreign investment.
He said it is time for Vietnam to lift its development level based on its growth and integration achievements.
He also mentioned upcoming activities to nurture coordination across science - technology, and education - training with Vietnam.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung thanked Tony Blair Office and the former PM in particular for their advices and recommendations, adding that they are helpful to Vietnam on the way to a full market economy and wider global integration.
The host hoped that Blair, with his prestige and experience, would help invite more investors to Vietnam to make investment or become strategic stakeholders in equitised SOEs.
He also asked the former UK PM to do more to carry the Vietnam – UK strategic partnership forward not only in economics, trade and investment but also in education-training and science-technology.
Receiving Blair the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in confidence that the visit would intensify the bilateral strategic partnership.
Blair told his host that the trend of SOEs reform and private sector empowerment is popular worldwide and has brought about prosperity and well-being to the people and the economy in general.
