Vietnam suggests UK consider transferring COVID-19 vaccine production technology

This comes as British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab makes an official visit to Vietnam from June 21 to June 22 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

During talks between the two sides, Minister Son warmly welcomed the UK minister for once again paying an official visit to Vietnam and directly attending the ASEM High-Level Dialogue, expressing his belief that the latest visit will add fresh impetus to promoting mutual ties.

Foreign Secretary Raab affirmed his desire to further strengthen the strategic partnership and closely co-ordinate efforts with Vietnam amid the UK tilting its foreign policy focus towards the Indo-Pacific region.

Both sides also expressed their delight at the positive changes in bilateral co-operation, especially since 2020 when they issued a Joint Statement on the orientation of the strategic partnership for the next decade and enforced the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

The pair also agreed to quickly resume delegation exchanges and key co-operation mechanisms, such as strategic security and defence dialogue, along with the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).

They expressed their great appreciation for flourishing economic co-operation, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with two-way trade turnover last year reaching US$5.6 billion. In addition, UK direct investment in the nation has so far hit US$3.92 billion.

The two diplomats used the occasion to underline the need to take advantage of the great opportunities from the UKVFTA in order to create stronger changes in trade exchange and investment co-operation. Indeed, there is a particular focus on potential fields such as the digital economy, financial services, and renewable energy development, thereby contributing to economic recovery in the post-COVID-19 period.

They also discussed ways to augment co-operation in security, defence, health, development co-operation, education, training, along with science and technology, as well as greater co-operation between the two foreign ministries.

An overview of the talks.

Host and guest applauded joint co-operation at multilateral forums, especially their co-ordination at the UN Security Council (UNSC) during Vietnam's 2020 to 2021 tenure serving as a non-permanent member, and within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Minister Son went on to affirm that he would work closely to ensure the success of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which will take place in November and be hosted by the UK.

Foreign Secretary Raab thanked Vietnam for supporting the UK in its efforts to create a dialogue partnership with ASEAN, as well as in its negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, with both jointly emphasizing the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation, overflight, security and peace in the East Sea. This is along with upholding international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), and the UN "Charter of the Oceans" which is considered to be the legal framework for all activities at sea and ocean.

At the end of talks, the two ministers met with Vietnamese diplomats who received Chevening scholarships between 2020 and 2021.

Minister Son also thanked the British Government for providing scholarships to support Vietnam in training high-quality human resources over the past three decades, including training Vietnamese diplomats.