UK upgrades relations with Viet Nam to strategic level

HA NOI — The United Kingdom is upgrading its relationship with Viet Nam to a strategic partnership, the highest level of its bilateral diplomatic ties.

A declaration, which would "show the depth of our co-operation", would be signed during Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem's visit to the UK next week, announced British ambassador Mark Kent yesterday.

"We see Viet Nam as a priority," he told a press conference in Ha Noi.

The strategic partnership would cover political co-operation, global and regional issues, trade and investment, sustainable socio-economic development, education and training, science and technology, security and defence, and the linking of the two nations' peoples, said the ambassador.

"The significant document shows the seriousness of both sides in their engagement," he said.

The diplomat said the bilateral relationship was not a traditional one but a "modern relationship built up through globalisation".

The bilateral tie had been continuing to grow rapidly over the past several years, he said.

It started off with a partnership progress document, which was agreed between the two Governments in March 2008 when Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the UK.

Since then, more detailed documents working on shared visions and a multiplication of contacts have been seen not only at a high-level but also at working levels.

Bilateral discussions on strategic partnership planning, migration, foreign policies and development have been recorded and the Viet Nam-UK Trade and Investment Joint Committee and Education Joint Committee have been established.

"This has all grown rather than gathering organically, but it is a good moment now to put it all in a most strategic framework," said the ambassador.

He said his Government believed it was important for them to build a strong partnership with Viet Nam, a country "emerging strongly after the recent time of economic difficulty globally" and becoming "active internationally".

The UK believed that relations with Asia in general and Viet Nam in particular were becoming increasingly important as the role of Asia grew, said the diplomat. —VNS