Pham spoke highly of the UK’s role in putting forward commitments and initiatives to the agenda of 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and vowed to coordinate closely with the UK to ensure the success of the COP 26.

He noted with pleasure that the bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and the UK is at the finest development stage as evidenced by the issuance of the Joint Declaration on the occasion of the 10 years of the two countries’ strategic partnership last year as well as the signing and coming into effect of the UK-Viet Nam free trade agreement (UKVFTA).

Pham asked the British side to further facilitate Viet Nam’s exports to the UK and to encourage British businesses to expand investment in such potential domains like finance-banking, oil and gas, renewable energy, digital economy, processing and manufacturing industry among others.

Pham took the occasion to extend sincere thanks to the UK Government for having donated 415,000 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses to Viet Nam.

British PM Johnson highly valued Viet Nam’s role and position in the region and in ASEAN, affirming the UK regards Viet Nam as a major partner in the region.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the two-way trade rose 26.92 percent to US$3.88 billion in the first seven month, mainly thanks to the UKVFTA which came into force from last May, said Johnson.

He announced that the UK will gift Viet Nam with additional medical equipment worth £500,000.

The British PM thanked Viet Nam for its support for the UK to become ASEAN’s dialogue partner in last August and join talks on accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The two PMs agreed that both countries will mutually recognize vaccine passports soon, paving the way for both sides to resume trade and tourism activities.

They expressed their pleasure at the fine collaboration between the two countries at the United Nations Security Council when Viet Nam serves as a non-permanent member in the tenure 2020-2021 and within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting.

Comparing notes on regional and international issues of shared concerns, the two PMs underlined the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and over-flight, security and peace in the East Sea, upholding international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – a legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas.