UK advocates signing FTA with VN

Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on January 13 made that statement at his reception for UK newly-appointed Ambassador to Viet Nam Giles Lever.Welcoming Mr. Giles Lever to Viet Nam, PM Dung suggested the two sides accelerate cooperation in terms of politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment as well as other potential areas such as education-training, science-technology, national defense and security.

He proposed the UK continue its Official Development Assistance (ODA) provision for Viet Nam.

The PM hoped that the UK supports other nations in the EU to approve the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and soon sign the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

The approval and signing of these Agreements will create a new legal framework and facilitate the cooperation between Viet Nam and the UK in particular and Viet Nam and the EU in general, he revealed.

PM Dung expected that the Ambassador will make active contributions to the bilateral relations in the future.

Ambassador Giles Lever confirmed that the UK supports the development process of Viet Nam and highly valued the nation’s efforts and commitments in improving the investment and business environment, anti-corruption and opening market for foreign investors.

Southeast Asia and Viet Nam has increasingly become crucial in the UK’s diplomatic policy, he said, adding that the UK officially ratifies the PCA and advocates the EU to approve and sign the PCA and FTA with Viet Nam.

The UK also expects to closely coordinate with Viet Nam in dealing with issues on climate change, illegal trade of animals and plants, and peacekeeping activities in the UN.

These contents mentioned above will be referred to and concretized in the upcoming Deputy Ministerial Strategic dialogue, the diplomat said.