Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar washeld in Hanoi on March 21 to look back on achievements during the 50 years ofthe Vietnam - UK diplomatic relationship and the prospects of future bilateral ties.

Opening the event, Phan Anh Son, VicePresident and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Union of FriendshipOrganisations (VUFO), said since the official establishment of the diplomaticrelationship on September 11, 1973, bilateral ties have continuously beenreinforced and developing. This is especially the case since the elevation of relations to astrategic partnership in September 2010, which has opened up many cooperation frameworks such as the strategic dialogue, the joint committee for economicand trade cooperation, and the working group on defence.

Thanks to the effectiveimplementation of the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), bilateral economiclinks have been growing strongly. Trade in goods and services reached about 5.9billion GBP (7.2 billion USD) in 2022, up 12.4% year on year.

The UK is currently a leadingeducational partner of Vietnam with 74 transnational educational programmes of23 British universities.

The two sides have also unceasinglystrengthened collaboration in global issues, especially climate changeresponse, he noted, elaborating that they are working together towards the JustEnergy Transition Partnership (JETP) and also cooperating closely atinternational and regional forums.

In addition, Vietnam and the UK have alwaysattached importance to respect for, the maintenance of peace, stability, andsecurity, as well as the guaranteeing of navigation and overflight freedom inthe East Sea in line with international law. The two countries see the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework forall activities in seas and oceans, Son went on.

Regarding people-to-people diplomacy,the Vietnam - UK Friendship Association has been organising various activities tohelp intensify the friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperation betweenthe two peoples, thus contributing to the countries’ strategic partnership, headded.

He expressed his belief that basedon the achievements obtained over the last 50 years, the friendship, andmultifaceted cooperation, relations between Vietnam and the UK will continue tobe promoted, meeting the aspirations of and generating practical benefits forthe two peoples and helping with regional and global peace, stability, anddevelopment.

For his part, Marcus Winsley, DeputyAmbassador of the UK to Vietnam, held that bilateral relations are now in theirprime. The COVID-19 pandemic is also the time for the two countries to liftcooperation in many areas to a new level, from politics, economy, and education tosecurity and defence, particularly the combat against human trafficking andtransnational crimes.

He noted his country is ready to assistthe Vietnamese Government in improving people’s English language skills.

Both sides should further shareinformation about investment attraction, market opening, and technologydevelopment to realise the commitments to sustainable development and netzero emissions by 2050. They also need to work more closely towards the JETP,according to the diplomat./.