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| Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất |
HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said on Thursday he hoped that Việt Nam’s trade, investment and defence-security co-operation with the UK will grow following the visit by Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox.
Meeting the UK official in Hà Nội, the PM pledged that Việt Nam will create optimal conditions for UK businesses and investors in Việt Nam, proposing the two countries beef up their co-operation to double the current two-way trade of over US$5.6 billion by 2020.
He urged the UK to help speed up the official enactment of the EU-Việt Nam free trade agreement, suggesting that both sides study a new trade pact suitable to the post-Brexit era.
He said Vietnamese enterprises want to strengthen partnerships with UK firms, which have strong capacity, experience and technologies.
The PM expressed his hope that the UK will continue supporting Việt Nam in training high-quality human resources and teaching English, and facilitate Vietnamese students’ study there.
He said he expects the UK government to ease conditions for more than 70,000 Vietnamese living and studying in the country.
He also expressed pleasure at the increasing number of British tourists to Việt Nam.
For his part, Fox highlighted the co-operation between Việt Nam and the UK in multiple fields, including corruption prevention and administrative reform.
He reiterated that the UK, after Brexit, still looks to strengthen economic co-operation with other nations by enhancing its investment overseas and ensuring free trade.
He underlined the c-ooperation potential for the two nations, particularly in commercial airplane purchases, education and training, and national defence and security.
The two nations should foster their strategic partnership in other fields, he added.
The UK pledged to support Việt Nam’s socio-economic development, he said, adding that this also contributes to the UK’s prosperity. — VNS
