Tet Message from HRH The Prince Andrew, The Duke of York

 

“I am writing to wish you and the people of Vietnam peace and prosperity during the comingyear on the occasion of the Lunar New Year celebrations. This is a particularly significant year for Vietnam, as it marks the anniversary of 1,000 years of the capital Hanoi. From my regular visits to Vietnam and contact with its people, I know what a rich and important cultural history you have.

 

In my role as the UK's Special Representative for Trade & Investment, I am pleased to see that trade and investment between our countries continues to flourish and develop notwithstanding the difficult international economic climate. British businesses want to develop loyal long-term partnerships in Vietnam. I am also very pleased to see an increasing number of young Vietnamese coming to the United Kingdom to study at British Schools and Universities. These educational links between the United Kingdom and Vietnam represent strong foundations from which to develop the relationship further in the coming years.

 

More widely, I wish Vietnam every success this year in its role as the Chair of ASEAN. The United Kingdom looks forward to continuing to work closely with Vietnam on key global issues.”

 

HRH The Duke of York, KG, KCVO, ADC (otherwise known as Prince Andrew) is the second son and the third child of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. He is fourth in line to the throne. The Duke of York was appointed Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, working with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), in 2001.

 

The Duke of York has paid several official visits to Vietnam in 1999, 2006, 2008. The latest visit was in October 2009 when he met Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Minister of Planning and Investment Mr Vo Hong Phuc. The visit was aimed at raising UK’s profile as a major trading and investment partner for Vietnam. Recently, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF 2010) in Davos, Prince Andrew had a meeting with PM HE Nguyen Tan Dung in which Vietnamese PM asked Prince Andrew to continue supporting Vietnam and encouraging British businesses to invest in Vietnam.

The UK ranks as Vietnam’s third largest EU investor (after France and the Netherlands) with 109 projects with a registered value of US$ 2.04 billion. Vietnam is one of the UK’s 17 priority markets around the world.