Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn had meetings with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy. — Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

NEW YORK — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn had meetings with UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy and Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Ahmed Attaf on September 23 on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future and the high-level week of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Receiving the UK diplomat, Sơn congratulated Lammy on his appointment, and thanked the UK for providing 1 million GBP (US$1.34 million USD) to support Việt Nam's Typhoon Yagi relief efforts.

He hailed the European country’s recognition of Việt Nam's market economy status, saying Việt Nam approved the UK's accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in June. He appreciated the UK’s coordination role in the Just Energy Transition Partnership and suggested the country continue assisting Việt Nam in carrying out the resources mobilisation plan announced at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Việt Nam, as the coordinator of the ASEAN – UK relations, will join hands with the UK to deepen the ties, he added.

Lammy, for his part, affirmed that the UK attaches importance to the strategic partnership with Vietnam and will continue assistance for the country’s sustainable economic development.

He recommended the two sides strengthen cooperation in the domains of defence-security and migration issues.

The two diplomats concurred to continue accelerating the effective implementation of the UK - Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement and capitalising on the opportunities from the CPTPP to boost the bilateral economic-trade and investment ties. They welcomed the positive progress of the ASEAN – UK partnership over the past time and affirmed support for the maintenance of peace, stability and freedom of navigation and overflight as well as the settlement of the East Sea issues via peaceful means and based on international regulation and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn had talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Ahmed Attaf in New York. — Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Meeting with the Algerian diplomat, Sơn affirmed that Việt Nam always treasures the traditional friendship with Algeria and suggested the two nations enhance delegation exchanges and work closely with each other at the multilateral forums, particularly at the UN and Non-Aligned Movement, while asking Algeria to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese firms to invest and do business in the country.

Attaf agreed with Sơn on the necessity to step up political ties and deepen collaboration across economy-trade, investment, energy, oil and gas and people-to-people exchanges.

The two sides reached consensus to join hands to concretise the outcome of the 12th meeting of the Việt Nam - Algeria Intergovernmental Committee and soon organise the fourth political consultation. — VNS