Deepening Vietnam-UK Cooperation across Key Areas

Vietnam and the UK highly appreciate the valuable role undertaken by the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, HRH the Duke of York, in promoting trade and investment links between the two countries.

 

In addition, both countries welcome an intensification of links between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and British political parties, as well as between the CPV agencies and UK government agencies, academic and strategic policy institutions. Both sides welcome enhanced parliamentary cooperation, including bilateral visits, cooperation in multilateral fora and projects aimed at sharing experience; and looking at ways to increase direct contact between regions and provinces of the two countries, with particular regard to promoting trade and investment and educational links. The two sides note with satisfaction the increasing number of individual dialogues which have been established between the two governments, and at an EU level: including political and foreign policy planning consultation, trade and investment, development cooperation, education, migration, and human rights.

 

More importantly, Vietnam and the UK decide to establish the biennial Strategic Dialogue to review the bilateral relationship.

 

One of the most important parts in ensuring continued global development and an intensifying Vietnam-UK relationship is the commitment to free trade. Vietnam and the UK will continuously work for reform of the global financial and monetary system; and support continued strengthening and expansion of the world trade organisation.

 

At the same time, the UK will support Vietnam in enhancing economic and trade ties with the EU; supporting the EU’s early recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status subject to it meeting established EU criteria; exploring ways and means toward a possible negotiation of a WTO-compatible Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU.

 

Both sides will encourage and facilitate business, trade and investment in their respective markets on the basis of long term stability and mutual benefit. In this respect, Vietnam welcomes the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) designation of Vietnam as a High Growth Market. Both sides will create favourable conditions for access to each other’s markets, in conformity with WTO rules, and the UK will continue to support Vietnam to prioritise and deliver its trade policy reform agenda. In this regard, the UK will provide training assistance packages for Vietnam where appropriate.

 

Both sides will continue to encourage each other’s investment and trade. The UK welcomes Vietnam’s intention to expand its investment and to increase its exports to the UK market, in particular footwear, garments and textiles, wood, agricultural and aquatic products. Vietnam likewise encourages more UK exports to Vietnam. The UK will look to consolidate its position as Vietnam’s number one overseas investor in financial services, and increase UK trade and investment in other key sectors including insurance services, banking, energy, real estate, retail, telecoms, IT and creative industries in Vietnam’s market.

 

Regarding the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model of financing infrastructure development, Vietnam welcomes the UK government’s decision to finance studies by Partnerships UK on implementing the PPP model in Vietnam and the creation of an industry group of UK companies to provide expertise in this area. Following the PPP Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier in 2010, both sides look forward to UK involvement in pilot PPP projects in Vietnam.

 

Vietnam and UK will make efforts to increase two-way trade volume to US$4 billion and UK FDI in Vietnam to US$3 billion by 2013.

 

In the context of the 2006-2016 Development Partnership Arrangement between the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam and the Department for International Development of the UK, the UK will support Vietnam in tackling remaining poverty challenges and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, focusing particularly on primary education, HIV/AIDS and sanitation, as well as on climate change.

 

Via the EU and other development partners, the UK will also work with Vietnam to help create the necessary environment for continued economic growth and prosperity as Vietnam looks to progress beyond Middle Income Status, including support for Vietnam’s integration into the global economic system and spreading the benefits of growth, including by fostering innovative private sector approaches.

 

Especially, both countries will work together to deal with the challenge of climate change. This will include cooperation in international fora. For its part, the UK is committed to supporting Vietnam’s development of a low-carbon climate-resilient growth strategy, the integration of best adaptation practices into Vietnam’s major investments, and Vietnam’s access to international climate financing.

 

Both sides are committed to the fight against corruption. Both sides will share experience in this respect and consider supporting efforts aimed at bolstering the fight against corruption. Both sides decided to work together to further good governance, rule of law, accountability and transparency

 

issues, and sharing experience on economic policy making, including transparent and independent data publication and working together on legal and judicial issues of concern.

 

The UK is committed to supporting the education reform strategies of the Government of Vietnam in the areas of primary, higher and further education.

 

Both sides are committed to increasing and strengthening the number and range of joint education programmes between the two countries at governmental and institutional levels; and encouraging more university links and private sector initiatives aimed at bringing UK educational opportunities which meet international standards to Vietnam.

 

Among such links are the Vietnam-UK commitment to the development of a state university in Danang which meets international standards in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier in 2010; and welcoming the opening of the British University in Hanoi. The UK supports English teacher development and Vietnam’s 2020 English language strategy. Besides, both sides aim to increase the number of Vietnamese students coming to the UK for higher education and to explore opportunities for more UK students to come to Vietnam for part of their tertiary education.

 

In terms of science and innovation, both parties commit to deliver an Action Plan for increased cooperation in this respect, covering areas such as health and infectious diseases, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and agricultural sciences and technology. They warmly welcome plans for cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. They will look to strengthen research networks involving scientists from the two countries, including the dissemination of opportunities under EU funding programmes and exchange of policy ideas.

 

Vietnam and the UK decided to help create conditions to promote greater understanding between the peoples of both countries through encouraging networks to consolidate links and collaboration in the fields of art and culture, sport, the media, scientific research and tourism; and by promoting Vietnamese and UK art, culture and tourism in each country, including holding exhibitions, culture performance, and tourism fairs.

The UK and Vietnam value the contribution of the Vietnamese community in the UK to the social and economic development of the UK and Vietnam, and in promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries. They commit to a regular dialogue with the community representatives to foster cooperation and greater understanding.

 

Looking forward to the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2013, both countries commit to encouraging appropriate initiatives to mark the occasion. Both sides welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Information and communication to promote cooperation and experience sharing in this area. The UK and Vietnam will work to encourage greater media exchange and promote greater access for each other’s media organisations. In this respect, the UK welcomes Vietnamese support in facilitating the Financial Times to open a bureau in Hanoi. Both sides will look to use important events to promote mutual understanding between their societies, in particular through sports and tourism.

 

The UK and Vietnam will work together to promote the London 2012 Olympic Games. Vietnam will support the UK’s “See Britain” campaign which aims at promoting the UK as an open, connected, dynamic and creative country. The UK will stand ready to assist the Vietnamese Olympic and Paralympics Team where appropriate, including establishing links with sporting partners in the UK. On the basis of this Joint Declaration, both sides commit to draw up joint action plans for delivery by November of each year.