London (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmedthat Vietnam commits to supporting trade liberalization and open cooperationwith all partners, including the UK, amidst the trend of peace, cooperation andglobalization.

Addressing a Vietnam-UKbusiness forum in London on October 9 that drew hundreds of businesses, theofficial said that since Vietnam and the UK set up strategic partnership in 2010,bilateral trade rose to 6.1 billion USD in 2017.

In the first sixmonths of 2018, two-way trade hit 3.12 billion USD, up 14.2 percent year onyear, he noted.

Vietnam is currentlyhosting 344 UK-invested projects with a total investment of 3.48 billion USD invarious fields such as finance-banking, production, service, garment andtextile, mining, oil and gas, and real estate, making it the 15th biggest out of the 129 foreign countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

At the same time,Vietnamese firms have run 13 projects worth 12.47 million USD in the UK,focusing on tourism, restaurant, sports and fine art.

With more than 12,000students studying in the UK, the Vietnamese community in the European countryhas increased to 100,000, helping foster the connectivity between the twonations.

Vietnam considers theUK as an important partner, and the bolstering of economic, trade andinvestment collaboration with the UK as the major motivation for the bilateralstrategic partnership, stated Minh.

At the forum, he alsowitnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation betweenthe Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the UK-ASEAN Business Council.

UK Prime Minister’sTrade Envoy to Vietnam Ed Vazey said that his country supports the free tradeagreement between Vietnam and the EU, and added that the Brexit issue does notaffect investment and business activities of the UK in Vietnam.

Discussing the futureof the Vietnamese economy, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang QuocVuong highlighted economic achievements that Vietnam has gained in recent years,along with potential and strengths of the country and its commitments tocreating favourable investment and business for foreign investors.

UK Minister of Statefor trade and export promotion at the UK Department for International TradeBaroness Rona Alison Fairhead said that Vietnam has become a promising land forUK businesses. She advised UK firms to make full use of their strengths infinance-banking, insurance, oil and gas, and pay more attention to cooperationopportunities in Vietnam in renewable energy, infrastructure, IT and education.

The same day, DeputyPM Minh had a meeting with David Liddington, Minister of the UK Cabinet Office,during which the two sides showed their delight at the growth of the bilateralstrategic partnership, while seeking measures to continue boosting the ties inthe future when the UK is leaving the EU.

Liddington affirmedthat the UK Government is keen in continue fostering multifaceted partnershipwith the Government of Vietnam, including in strengthening governance capacityand high quality human resources training.

Deputy PM Minhproposed that the UK Government encourage local firms to invest more in Vietnamand strengthen cooperation in promising areas such as education,science-technology and tourism, while supporting Vietnam to run for theposition of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021tenure.

Regardinginternational issues, the two sides pledged to continue collaborating closelyat international forums, including the UN, and supporting peace, stability, andmaritime and overflight security, safety and freedom as well as the peacefulsettlement of disputes through peaceful measures in line with internationallaw, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

Deputy PM Minh askedLiddington to convey Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s invitation to PM TheresaMay for a visit to Vietnam.-VNA