Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with visiting former UK Prime
Minister Tony Blair on March 19 , during which they agreed to work
closely with each other to develop areas of cooperation in the future.
The two sides noted with pleasure the development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership in all fields.
They spoke highly of Vietnamese agencies and the Office of Tony Blair
(OTB) in putting forth cooperation orientations in an array of areas,
including consultation, reforming state-owned enterprises, foreign
investment attraction, public-private partnership, the private sector,
economics, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries,
and Vietnam’s international integration.
The
orientations are suitable for Vietnam ’s requirements in economic
restructuring and growth model shift, said Minh.
The FM spoke highly of Blair’s active role and goodwill in supporting
and coordinating with Vietnam , noting his contributions to OTB
consultation activities for Vietnamese agencies.
For his part, Blair said he is impressed by Vietnam ’s
socio-economic achievements and the country’s international integration
policy.
With a stable political-social
environment and much potential for economic development, Vietnam has a
growing opportunity to attract foreign investment, especially from
the European Union and the Middle East , he said.
The two sides also compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
During his stay in Vietnam from March 18-19, Blair met with Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and attended working sessions with a number of
Vietnamese ministry leaders.-VNA