The UK is a major trade partner of Vietnam in Europe, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and First Secretary of State Dominic Raab during their meeting in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The UK foreign minister made his official visit on the occasion of the two countries’ 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership, PM Phuc stated, adding that Vietnam always considers the kingdom a leading partner in Europe and the world.

PM Phuc praised the outcomes of the earlier talks between Raab and Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, especially the issuance of the 'Joint Declaration on the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership: Forging Ahead for Another 10 years,' which specifies their vision and cooperation orientations in certain fields.

The UK is a big trade partner of Vietnam in Europe, the premier reiterated, suggesting that the two nations finalize, sign, and enforce a bilateral free trade agreement in an early manner to seize cooperation opportunities and support growth recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for UK investors and enterprises to enter the country to do business and meet the former's development demand, he noted, adding that the Southeast Asian nation is willing to continue working with the UK to step up COVID-19 prevention and control, especially in medicine and vaccine development.

Replying to his host, Raab said his visit to Vietnam is part of the UK government’s policy on expanding ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The UK treasures and wishes to further intensify cooperation with Vietnam, he said, adding that it also hopes to coordinate closely with the Southeast Asian country in promoting connections with the region and in settling urgent global issues.

Both sides have agreed on strengthening ties in economic matters, trade, investment, education-training, science-technology, clean energy, and sustainable development so that their strategic partnership will live up to its potentialities.

Raab congratulated Vietnam on successfully curbing the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the UK highly values the Vietnamese stature and role in the region and the world.

The official hoped that both sides will work together to prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), to be held in the UK in 2021.

The UK supports Vietnam and ASEAN’s stance on the need to maintain peace, stability and security, resolve disputes via peaceful measures, and comply with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he added.

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