Vietnam pledges to promote ASEAN-UK cooperation programmes
VOV.VN - Vietnam will actively promote practical cooperation programmes between ASEAN and the UK as the coordinator of ASEAN-UK relations in the 2024-2027 period, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said.
Son was speaking during his phone call to British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron on May 10.
The two diplomats reviewed the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK, which they said has been developing effectively and extensively.
To promote political understanding and trust and create incentives for cooperation, they agreed to increase the exchange of delegations, effectively deploy existing cooperation mechanisms such as Strategic Dialogue, Defense Policy Dialogue, and Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), and build and effectively implement the Vietnam-UK Action Plan for 2024-2026.
Son affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UK’s Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) membership, which he said creates a new driving force for the two countries to promote cooperation in trade - investment and increase regional economic linkages.
The two diplomats stressed the need for the two countries to continue to fully and effectively implement the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) to contribute to each country’s economic development goals.
Appreciating the cooperation results between the two countries recorded in recent times, Cameron affirmed that the UK attaches importance to strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam. He emphasized that the UK will continue to accompany and support Vietnam’s sustainable economic development.
The UK diplomat proposed that the two countries continue to foster cooperation on migration, including preventing and combating illegal migration, as well as immigration management.
With regard to international cooperation, the two sides agreed to strengthen coordination and mutual support at regional and multilateral organizations and forums.
Both sides affirmed their support for maintaining peace, stability, freedom of maritime and aviation security, and resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
