Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab expressed thanks to Vietnamese competent authorities and health workers for their devotion to cure British nationals who were confirmed having COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian country. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Photo: VGP

Raab congratulated on Viet Nam’s successful response to the pandemic, saying that the UK lists Viet Nam as one of countries whose citizens do not need to isolate for 14 days when entering his country.

He affirmed the UK regards Viet Nam as one of its major partners in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, expressing his wish to further deepen the strategic partnership with Viet Nam in all fields.

Raab also highly valued Viet Nam’s efforts as the current ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, reiterating that the UK stands ready to continue close collaboration with Viet Nam at multilateral frameworks, the United Nations Security Council, as well as other international for a.

The Foreign Secretary voiced the UK’s continue support for preserving peace, security and stability and for respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the East Sea.

The UK expects to further accelerate ASEAN-UK cooperation, Raab said, calling for Viet Nam’s advocacy for stronger the ASEAN-UK ties.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM, FM Minh spoke highly of mutual coordination and support between the two countries at multilateral for a, pledging that Viet Nam, as the current ASEAN Chair, advocate foreign partners, including the UK, to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN.

Minh welcomed foreign partners, including the UK, to make constructive contributions to peace, cooperation, development and observation of international law in the region and the world.

Both sides expressed their pleasure at the strong advancement of the Viet Nam-UK strategic partnership over the past decade. In this regard, Minh suggested the two countries beef up exchange of delegations while maintaining the existing cooperation mechanisms and working towards the signing of a free trade deal between the sides.

He also asked the UK side to continue mutual support for citizen protection work, emphasizing that Viet Nam would create favorable conditions for foreign investors, experts, business managers and skilled workers, including those from the UK, to enter Viet Nam./.