Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has promised all possible help toVietnam including introducing high-profile investors as strategicpartners in the equitisation of Vietnamese State-owned enterprises(SOEs).

Meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungin Hanoi on March 4, Blair expressed his optimism about the prospect ofcooperation between Tony Blair Office and Vietnamese partners, sayingthat he would continue joint efforts to successfully developpublic-private partnership models, overhaul Vietnamese SOEs andstimulate 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 acrossscience - technology, and education - training with Vietnam.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung thanked Tony Blair Office and the former PM inparticular for their advices and recommendations, adding that they arehelpful to Vietnam on the way to a full market economy and wider globalintegration.

The host hoped that Blair, with hisprestige and experience, would help invite more investors to Vietnam tomake investment or become strategic stakeholders in equitised SOEs.

He also asked the former UK PM to do more to carry the Vietnam – UKstrategic partnership forward not only in economics, trade andinvestment but also in education-training and science-technology.

Receiving Blair the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucsaid in confidence that the visit would intensify the bilateralstrategic partnership.

Blair told his host that thetrend of SOEs reform and private sector empowerment is popularworldwide and has brought about prosperity and well-being to the peopleand the economy in general.-VNA