The President made the remark at a reception for First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK Dominic Raab in Hanoi on June 22, who is on an official visit to Vietnam and attending the high-level policy dialogue of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK Dominic Raab.

He said the two sides should give priority to the effective implementation of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) towards creating breakthroughs in trade and investment cooperation, affirming that Vietnam will create all possible conditions for UK businesses to invest in potential fields such as banking, insurance, financial services, digital services and renewable energy.

President Phuc hailed the UK as a leading country in Europe and the world in researching, developing and administering Covid-19 vaccine, and asked the UK to help Vietnam access vaccine supply and production technology.

Secretary of State Raab underlined that the UK attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam as the UK is adjusting its policy towards the Indo-Pacific region post Brexit. He informed President Phuc that he had discussed with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son measures to implement the content of the bilateral strategic partnership, with a focus on the resumption of delegation exchange, cooperation mechanisms and orientations for coordination to optimise opportunities brought by the UKVFTA.

The official said he was impressed by Vietnam’s work in controlling Covid-19, and affirmed that the UK is ready to contribute vaccine to global efforts to control the pandemic, including providing vaccine to friendly countries and strategic partners like Vietnam.

He thanked Vietnam, with its rising role in the region, for actively backing the UK in promoting its cooperation with ASEAN and negotiating on joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The two sides agreed to work closely at important multilateral forums in 2021 such as the UN Security Council, ASEM and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

President Phuc spoke highly of the UK’s role and contribution to peace, security, and maritime freedom in the region and the world.

The UK official affirmed the importance of ensuring maritime and navigation freedom, security and peace in the East Sea/South China Sea, and emphasised compliance to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Vietnam among beneficiaries of US vaccine donation

The U.S. has announced the destinations of 55 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, and Vietnam is among them.

Over 966,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to be distributed nationwide

The Ministry of Health on June 17 announced it will distribute a total of 966,320 doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to local Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs), hospitals and medical units, among others, across the country.

Vietnam approves Pfizer Covid vaccine for emergency use

Vietnam has approved the emergency use of a Covid-19 vaccine developed by U.S.-based firm Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech Inc., the Ministry of Health announced Saturday.

Many more donations to Covid-19 vaccine fund

(BGO) – The Covid-19 vaccine fund in Bac Giang province received many more donations in June 12 and 13 from various organizations and individuals inside and outside the province. 

3 billion VND donated to Covid-19 vaccine fund

(BGO) – On behalf of Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), representatives of Agribank Bac Giang branch and Agribank Bac Giang branch 2 on June 10 donated 3 billion VND (131,400 USD) to Covid-19 vaccine fund at the office of the Fatherland Front Committee (FFC) in Bac Giang province. 

Source: NDO/VNA