Vietnam and the UK should
continue to implement signed agreements and propose new cooperation
programmes, especially in economics, trade and investment.
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the suggestion while receiving former
Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair in Hanoi on November 1.
The Vietnamese leader said the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership is developing and benefits both sides.
He
highly valued the former UK Prime Minister’s contributions to
strengthening bilateral ties, and said he hopes the UK continue
providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to meet
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including poverty reduction.
He
spoke highly of effective cooperation between Blair’s Office and the
Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment, particularly in foreign
direct investment attraction and infrastructure development in the form
of private public partnership (PPP).
The Vietnamese PM said he
wishes that the former UK Prime Minister will make further contribution
to fostering the relationship between Vietnam and the European Union
(EU), especially the acceleration of the singing of the Vietnam–EU Free
Trade Agreement (VEFTA) and early ratification of the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement (PCA).
For his part, Blair pledged to do
his best to beef up EU-Vietnam relations and share experience with the
country in attracting foreign investment and promoting trade, and
education and training.
He also affirmed closer coordination with
the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment and other relevant
Vietnamese agencies in selecting local enterprises and prioritising
infrastructure projects to attract foreign investment.-VNA