Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam appreciated the UK’sassistance in human trafficking prevention and control and expected that the two sides would continue cooperation and experience sharing in the field, said Deputy Minister ofNational Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien.

At a reception in Hanoi on August 16 forvisiting Permanent Secretary at the UK’s Home Office Matthew Rycroft, Chien stressed that cooperative relations between the two countries have beenactively fostered by their leaders over the past time, particularly via visits.

The officer informed his guest that on the basis of a memorandumof understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fight against human trafficking signed in November2018, the Border Guard High Command under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has maintained an effective cooperation mechanismwith the UK Border Agency.

The two sides have conducted many exchangeand training sessions to share experience, and are actively coordinating incompiling manuals on human trafficking prevention and control for the Vietnameseside.

Chien proposed the UK continue cooperating with the Vietnamese side to effectively implementthe MoU by increasing meetings, training courses, andinformation-experience exchange.

He suggested the UK side consider joining Vietnam’s Border Guard Academy in developing training materials and textbooks on fighting human trafficking.

For his part, Rycroft, who just co-chaired the Vietnam – UK MigrationDialogue in Hanoi a day earlier, said Vietnam is an important strategic partnerof the UK.

In addition to cooperation in other spheres, thebilateral coordination in preventing and combating illegal migration and humantrafficking are also important, bringing benefits to both nations, he said.

The official took this occasion to congratulate Vietnam on being one of the pioneer countries in the region in proactively addressing climatechange-related issues./.