HCMCity (VNA) - The constant development of the Vietnam-UK relations washighlighted at a ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomaticties between the two countries in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People Committee Le ThanhLiem stressed that the bilateral ties has developed rapidly across fields,especially after the two nations upgraded their relations to a StrategicPartnership in 2010.

In the context of the two countries’ fruitful relations in terms of politics,diplomacy, economy, and culture, tourism and education cooperation, therelationship between HCM City and the UK have also recorded important achievements,particularly in exchange of delegations, trade investment, education, tourismand culture exchange.

HCM City is home to 146 projects totaling 555 million USD invested by UK firms.The European country ranks 11th among 100 countries and territoriesinvesting in the city.

Trade value between HCM City and the UK in 2017 hit 795 million USD. TheVietnamese locality welcomed 125,000 British visitors - the largest number inthree years.

Liem stressed that increasing and diplomatic exchange activities, andeconomic-trade -investment, culture and education bonds between the twonations, as well as their closer and effective cooperation in global andregional issues, will contribute to further deepening the Vietnam-UK StrategicPartnership, thus promoting their mutual understanding and good friendship andcooperation, and meeting aspirations and interests of the people of both sides.

For his part, Ian Gibbons, Consul General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to HCM City, said overthe past 45 years, Vietnam has left behind all the wreckage of the war torebuild the country in spite of all hardships, noting that his country is proudto be with Vietnam on this path.

The re-opening of the Consulate General in HCM City in 1994 created animportant premise for both sides to build trust and reinforce their extensive cooperationafterwards.

The bilateral relations has made important breakthroughs and strong developmentafter being upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in terms of politics, globaland regional issues, trade and investment, sustainable socio-economicdevelopment, education and training, science and technology, defence andsecurity, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Ian Gibbons affirmed that the Consulate General and the UK Business Association in Vietnam hopeto continue receiving support from the municipal authorities, so that more andmore UK firms would not only come to do business but also set up offices andproduction establishments in the city.

The British Council is committed to continuing its efforts to introduce theUK’s arts, culture and language to locals in HCM City in particular andVietnamese people in general, he said.-VNA