National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan had a meeting in
Hanoi on April 1 with a UK parliamentary delegation led by Alistair
Burt, during which she expressed her delight at the growing relations
between the two countries across all sectors.
Along
with organising meetings among top leaders, both sides have
strengthened political and economic consultations and dialogues,
promoting mutual understanding and trust as well as bilateral
cooperation, she said.
She noted the economic
partnership is growing, with trade reaching 4.3 billion USD in 2014.
However, the figure between the two countries has yet to reach its
potential, she asserted.
Both sides have striven to
increase education collaboration by setting up a Vietnam-UK
University which is expected to become operational shortly, she said,
adding that she hopes the UK will create favourable conditions for
Vietnamese students in the country and grant more scholarship to
Vietnamese students.
She proposed Vietnam and the
UK continue their close coordination at multilateral forums and
international organisations, especially at the United Nations,
Asia-Europe Meetings, and ASEAN-EU cooperative efforts.
Vietnam appreciates the UK Parliament’s approval of the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the
EU, she stated, expressing her hope that the UK Parliament would
continue supporting Vietnam ’s all-round ties with the union.
The NA Vice Chairwoman also voiced her wish that the UK Parliament
would push the EU’s approval of the PCA as well as the finalisation and
signing of a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement and recognising Vietnam
’s market economy.
For his part, Burt lauded Vietnam ’s successful hosting of the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
He held that Vietnam is on a rapid development trend that is set to continue reaping achievements.
He said he hopes both sides would foster their cooperation in the
fields of finance, science-technology, education and culture.-VNA