Vietnam Attaches Importance of UK Ties: PM Dung

Vietnam will give more favorable conditions for British investors to do business in the country as part of concerted efforts to build comprehensive bilateral relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told UK’s Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent at a reception April 17.

 

Speaking with the guest, the PM expressed his hope that the two nations will increase dialogues on multilateral issues for mutual understanding and development.

 

Dung informed the UK ambassador of Vietnam’s plans for the signing of a training cooperation agreement with the British Council, the establishment of Appolo University in Vietnam, and a memorandum of understanding on issues regarding illegal immigrants.

 

Ambassador Kent for his part affirmed the UK government’s commitment to continue supporting Vietnam in development projects.

 

During the reception, representatives from the UK Department for International Development and the British Council in Vietnam highly spoke of the country’s plan to host the high-level One UN Initiative Conference, saying they are interested in assisting the host.

 

The UK is one of the biggest European investors in Vietnam, with total pledged capital of US$1.4 billion in various fields as of June 22 last year. British famous companies such as Prudential, BP, Unilever, Tate & Lyle and others have performed in Vietnam.

 

The UK has also become one of the largest non-refundable aid providers for Vietnam.

The two-way trade reached US$1.8 billion in 2006, up 12 per cent on-year. (The People, Saigon Liberation)