National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung made this affirmation while receiving UK Cabinet Minister, Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, in Hanoi on November 4. 

Applauding the UK Minister’s visit, which took place in the context of strong, comprehensive and intensive development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, the NA leader stressed that Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening friendship and cooperation with the UK. 

He suggested the UK continue supporting and facilitating cooperative activities with Vietnam in the fields of culture, education, security and defence, as well as serving as a bridge for Vietnam to strengthen ties with the EU. 

Chairman Hung thanked the UK parliament and people for their support for Vietnam in past years, especially in ODA provision for the Southeast Asian country’s socio-economic development programmes. 

Emphasising the high status of the UK’s financial markets, the NA leader expressed a wish that the UK will help Vietnamese businesses access and cooperate with these markets, particularly in securities and banking. 

Vietnam also wants to cooperate with the UK in mechanical engineering, hi-tech, agricultural product processing, chemicals, health care, and education and training. 

Minister Vince Cable said his visit aims to promote UK business investment activities in Vietnam. 

He suggested the two sides speed up the implementation of signed projects, adding that the UK is accelerating a number of investment projects in Vietnam, including building a university in the central city of Da Nang and opening direct air routes to Vietnam. 

On the same day, Minister Cable was received by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.