Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh (R) receives Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field yesterday. — Photo VGP

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh yesterday called on the British Government to encourage the country’s enterprises to intensify investment and business activities in Việt Nam.

Receiving Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific, Mark Field, who is visiting Việt Nam, the Deputy PM said Việt Nam looked forward to working closely with the UK to better use financial aid from the Commonwealth Fund and to being facilitated to get access to the Fund.

Speaking highly of the dynamic and effective development of bilateral ties, Field affirmed that the UK Government continued prioritising an improved strategic partnership cooperation between the two sides in all areas in the future.

Earlier yesterday, Field and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn co-chaired the sixth Việt Nam – UK Strategic Dialogue in Hà Nội, discussing specific orientations and measures to fortify the strategic partnership as the two countries celebrate the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1973-2018).

They agreed to increase the exchange of all-level delegations while fruitfully implementing strategic dialogue mechanisms on diplomacy, national defence and security.

At the same time, they will increase the promotion of trade, investment, culture and tourism relations, and people-to-people exchange, along with intensifying their co-operation at international forums such as the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and within the framework of the ASEAN-EU co-operation.

Both sides stressed that economic co-operation will continue being a key pillar of the Việt Nam-UK strategic partnership.

Sơn affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue creating favourable conditions for UK enterprises to do effective business in the country in the fields of infrastructure development, finance-banking, insurance, oil and gas, energy and pharmacy.

The two sides agreed to foster co-operation to ensure continuity in key cooperative fields, especially trade and investment, after Brexit; and to closely coordinate in fighting organised crime, human trafficking, illegal migration, and the illegal trade of wildlife.

Within the framework of the dialogue, the two officials compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern.

Concerning the East Sea issue, they called on involved parties to show their goodwill in implementing international obligations, avoid activities that can complicate the situation and increase tension in the region.

They also stressed the increasingly important role played by ASEAN in maintaining peace and stability in the region, reiterating that disputes must be solved by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

The two sides also issued a joint press release on the outcomes of the dialogue. — VNS