Vietnam: Foreign Relations

(asked on 18th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current bi-lateral relations between Vietnam and the UK.


Answered by
Nigel Adams Portrait
Nigel Adams
This question was answered on 25th March 2021

The UK's relationship with Vietnam has strengthened over time. In September 2020 the Foreign Secretary signed the renewed UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership Agreement in Hanoi with his counterpart Deputy Prime Minister Pham Minh Binh. The Agreement spans a range of interests including climate change, trade, security, innovation and human rights.

We use our broad relationship with Vietnam to advance bilateral and regional priorities: The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in December is already benefitting businesses in the UK and Vietnam. Vietnam has been a strong supporter of the UK's bid to be a Dialogue Partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and application to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

We have regular dialogue on areas of mutual interest such as climate change and energy, maritime security and tackling human trafficking. We also regularly raise our concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression with the Government of Vietnam.

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