The UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for Vietnam (Vietnam APPG) made its debut in London on December 16, expected to help strengthen the two countries’ comprehensive cooperation as they prepare to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership next year.

Defence cooperation has become a key pillar of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, said Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung at a ceremony in London on December 4 to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and the 35 years of the All-People Defence Festival.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Do Minh Hung had a working session with Speaker of the UK House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle in London on October 22, emphasising the priority of promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

Vietnam and the UK have new opportunities to strengthen their already robust cooperation over the past decades based on the solid foundation of the strategic partnership, said Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Catherine West.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) supports and commits to cooperating with the UK side to fight human trafficking and illegal migration, Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang told Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette Cooper in their phone talks on October 10.

Member of the Central Military Commission and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien and UK Minister of State for Defence Vernon Coaker co-chaired the fifth Vietnam-UK defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on September 13.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai on June 27 received visiting Group Chairman José Viñals of the UK-based Standard Chartered PLC.

The National Assembly on June 25 morning ratified a resolution approving the UK’s accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), with 94.25% of votes in favour.

A delegation of the central province of Nghe An led by Secretary of its Party Committee Thai Thanh Quy paid a working visit to the UK from June 11-13 to seek ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in trade, investment, hi-tech agriculture, tourism, and education.

Vietnam and the UK on June 5 launched an expertise exchange on issues involved in conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) for staffs of Level-2 Field Hospital No.6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron expressed their delight over the two countries’ strategic partnership which has been developed in a more effective and deeper manner, during their phone talks on May 10.

The Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954) was a ground breaking victory, not just for the Vietnamese people who fought for independence, freedom and socialism, but also for liberation movements in Southeast Asia and the world at large, said Kyril Whittaker, a British researcher of Vietnamese politics and history.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and visiting Permanent Under-Secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Philip Barton shared the view on the need for Vietnam and the UK to enhance cooperation in various spheres.

Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee Duong Tan Hien on December 11 hosted a visiting delegation from the British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, with the sides expressing their intention for better joint work in education, health, and transport infrastructure.

A delegation of the Vietnam-UK Friendship Association (VUFA) under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations led by VUFA Vice President Nguyen Van Phuc, paid a working visit to the UK from December 3 -10.

A seminar connecting Vietnam and the West Midlands region of the UK took place in the UK city of Birmingham on October 10.

Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha hosted a reception for Secretary of State for Scotland of the UK Alister Jack in Hanoi on October 4, where he affirmed that Vietnam-UK ties are thriving, especially since the upgrade of ties to a strategic partnership and the signing of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

Vietnam and the UK are proud to have built strong ties through not only people-to-people exchange, but also business and trade, said British Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan, expressing her belief that relationship will be enhanced in the time ahead.

A symposium was held in Hanoi on September 12 to review the achievements and development prospects of Vietnam - UK relations on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Vietnam and the UK have harvested numerous significant cooperation achievements over the last 50 years, and their cooperation potential remains huge, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long.