Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called for early conclusion of negotiations and signing of a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the UK, during his reception for Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on September 30. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) elbows bumps with UK Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab at the headquarters of the Government Office in Ha Noi on
September 30, 2020. Photo: VGP

As the UK is one of Viet Nam’s major trade partners in Europe, PM Phuc emphasized that the trade deal, once signed and implemented, would help both countries to boost economic recovery in post COVID-19 pandemic period.

The Government chief affirmed Viet Nam is willing to continue collaboration with the UK in combating the pandemic and manufacturing vaccines against COVID-19.

He suggested the sides continue close coordination at multilateral forums, especially when Viet Nam is undertaking the dual role as ASEAN 2020 Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the tenure 2020-2021.

For his part, Raab stressed that his visit to Viet Nam is part of the UK Government’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries.

He conveyed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s invitation to Phuc to pay an official visit to the UK in the time to come.

Raab congratulated on Viet Nam’s successful containment of the COVID-19 pandemic and voiced support for the positions of Viet Nam and ASEAN on the need to maintain peace, stability, security and to settle disputes through peaceful means with respect for international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the region.

Earlier the same day, Raab had face-to-face meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, during which both sides voiced support for multilateralism and rules-based international order.

The meeting follows the pair’s phone conversation in last July when Minh called for accelerating work toward the signing of the Viet Nam-UK trade deal./.