London (VNA) – Vietnam and the United Kingdom of GreatBritain and Northern Ireland (UK) issued a Joint Statement on the occasion ofVietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s officialvisit to the UK on October 9-10.

The following is the full text of the Joint Statement.

As part of events to welcome the 45th anniversary ofdiplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam, His Excellency DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit tothe UK from October 9-10, 2018. The Deputy Prime Minister had official talkswith Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster DavidLidington, Secretary of State for International Trade Dr Liam Fox,and paid courtesy calls on HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, andSpeaker of the House of Lords, Lord Fowler. During the visit, he also attendedthe Vietnam - UK Economic Forum and met some major UK companies. 

On the occasion of the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit, the UKand Vietnam note the growing importance of collaboration in the UN, onpeacekeeping, global security, international law and the illegal wildlifetrade. They highly appreciate and welcome the transition of the provision ofthe UN Level 2 Hospital in South Sudan from UK to Vietnamese peacekeepers, anda commitment to exchanging expertise in peacekeeping-related militaryengineering. 

The UK and Vietnam are strong advocates of free trade inEurope and Asia and actively promote the early signing of the EU – Vietnam FreeTrade agreement (EVFTA) in 2018. The UK and Vietnam look forward tomaintaining smooth trade relations as the UK leaves the EU, including throughensuring continuity for business by transitioning the prospective EU VietnamFree Trade agreement during the Brexit transition. Both sides also agree toconsult further on the prospects of the UK joining the CPTPP.

Both sides acknowledge the key role of education in therelationship including our strengthened science partnership on research,innovation and antimicrobial resistance. In pursuit of these goals, the Decisionestablishing the educational and cultural status of the British Council inVietnam has been renewed. They also emphasise the importance of enhancingcooperation on bilateral cultural diplomacy so as to help strengthen theStrategic Partnership between the two countries.  

Both sides reiterate their commitment to the UN sanctionsregime to encourage DPRK to take steps to denuclearise fully and verifiably.They reinforce the importance of maintaining the ban on the use of chemicalweapons globally. They agree that adherence to international law is thefoundation for peace and stability and renew their commitment to upholdingexisting Arbitrations and to freedom of navigation and overflight. Theyhold the view that countries should resolve all disputes by peaceful means, inaccordance with international law and through existing legal mechanisms.

Both sides express their support for the 2018 LondonConference on Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) and agree on the importance ofefforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade. 

Both sides look forward to a deeper and closer relationshipbetween the UK and ASEAN after the UK leaves the EU. They welcome further UKfunding for expertise exchanges with Vietnam on anti-corruption, culture,health, civil service capacity building and reform, infrastructure, smartcities and low carbon, maritime security, peaceful settlement of internationaldisputes. 

The UK and Vietnam have a mutual commitment to regularMinisterial visits to both countries. They agree that the next round of theStrategic Dialogue between the two countries should take place in early 2019.-VNA