Press release

London hosts fifth UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue

Minister for Asia, Hugo Swire, welcomed Vietnam’s Vice Foreign Minister Son to the UK for high level talks.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Speaking at the conclusion of the fifth UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue in London, Minister Hugo Swire said:

I am very pleased to have hosted the fifth annual talks about our Strategic Partnership Agreement with Vietnam. It is my third time as co-host and each time, we have continued to strengthen and deepen our ties and to increase progress with one of our key partners in Asia. The historic visit last July by David Cameron – the first British Prime Minister to visit Vietnam – demonstrated the strength of our relationship and we have certainly built on that momentum in London today.

Vice Foreign Minister Son and I have discussed global issues like climate change, migration and organised crime, as well as our bilateral trade and investment, and the defence relationship between our two countries.

I am particularly pleased by our progress in education – the foundation of our mutual future prosperity – and look forward to more cooperation throughout 2016 on eradicating the Illegal Wildlife Trade, including at the third global conference in Hanoi in November.

Further information

Following the Strategic Dialogue, the UK and Vietnam issued a communiqué to set out in greater detail the discussions and plans for the future. The communiqué is available online.

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Published 8 March 2016