London (VNA) – State President VoVan Thuong's participation of the coronation of KingCharles III of the UK from May 4 to 6 shows Vietnam’s respect and supportfor the Royal Family and the Government of the UK as well as the two countries’strategic partnership, a diplomat has said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, VietnameseAmbassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long said President Thuong’s working trip isa high-level diplomatic activity of great importance that affirms Vietnam’sstature and role in the region and the world.

During the visit, Thuongwill meet with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak,and some ministers of the UK so as to further intensify Vietnam’s relationswith the Government and the Royal Family of the UK.

He is also scheduled to engage inmeetings with leaders of the UK’s House of Commons, some Britishparliamentarians, former PM Tony Blair, along with representatives of some majorenterprises, universities, friendship organisations, and British nationals withconsiderable contributions to bilateral ties, according to Long.

The ambassador went on to say that relationsbetween Vietnam and the UK are now in their prime. In particular, the twocountries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomaticties in 2023. President Thuong’s visit will help create a new impetus for theirstrategic partnership to continue developing strongly, extensively, andsteadily in the decades to come.

Besides, the President will alsohave meetings with leaders of other countries which are important partners ofVietnam in order to further expand and reinforce ties with them, Long added.

Giving more details about theVietnam - UK relations, he said since the diplomatic relationship was set up onSeptember 11, 1973, bilateral cooperation has been flourishing across theboard. The two sides established bilateral strategic partnership in 2010 and adopteda joint statement on the occasion of the partnership’s 10th anniversary in 2020, reflecting their Governments’ strong commitment topromoting comprehensive cooperation in sustainable development and response toglobal challenges.

He highlighted trade and investmentcooperation as a pillar of the strategic partnership, noting that the UK iscurrently the third largest European trading partner and the ninth exportmarket of Vietnam.

In the first two years since the UK -Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) came into force on May 1, 2021, despiteimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade still grew 16.4% in 2021 and6.5% in 2022 to top 6.8 billion USD, rising three-fold from 2010,when the strategic partnership took shape.

In addition, the two countries havealso reached important agreements on other aspects, the diplomat said,elaborating that last year, under the UK Government’s coordination,Vietnam and the G7 countries approved a political declaration on establishingthe Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), opening up chances for cooperationin energy transition, green growth, and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, the UK’s conclusion oftalks on its entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement onTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on March 31 is also important to bilateralrelations. Together with the UKVFTA, the CPTPP will add another legal frameworkfor trade and economic ties between the two countries. It will help fosterinvestment and business links as well as people-to-people exchanges and mutual culturalunderstanding, which form an important basis for the Vietnam - UK friendshipand strategic partnership, Long added./.