National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has spoken highly of the establishment of strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK last September. On Friday, the second day of his visit to the UK, Chairman Hung met Lord Speaker of the UK Parliament Baroness D’Souza. He thanked the UK for allocating 70 million pounds of Official Development Assistance for Vietnam until 2016. He said the UK has become the largest aid provider in the EU to help Vietnam reduce poverty, improve health care, education and cope with climate change.

Later on the same day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung held talks with John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons. Both sides expressed pleasure over the efficient cooperation and fine relationship since the two countries established diplomatic ties 38 years ago. They said that the 2010 Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership is creating favorable conditions for both countries to elevate their comprehensive relationship. National Assembly Chairman Hung and Speaker of the House of Commons Bercow agreed to increase exchanges and coordination in resolving international and regional issues of mutual concerns.

The chief legislator also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in London and met with representatives of the Vietnamese communities there.

At Thursday’s meeting in London with Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle, Mr. Hung called ‘significant’ the Vietnam-UK Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership, the first Strategic Dialogue, and the Vietnam-UK Action Plan. The Vietnamese legislative leader expressed his hope that through its important role in the European Union, the UK will help Vietnam improve its relations with the bloc, especially in economics and trade. At a joint press conference following the meeting, the Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons said the UK Government and Parliament want to foster ties with Vietnam and support stronger bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, investment, culture, education, and response to climate change. Mr. Hung said both countries remain committed to the Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership: “My visit aims to nurture out friendship, and lift our comprehensive cooperation which should focus not just on trade and investment, but also education and training, health care, science and technology, culture, sports and tourism. The more our strategic cooperation grows, the friendlier relations among the two peoples will become”.

Earlier, National Assembly Chairman Hung witnessed the signing of a cooperative agreement between Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the University of Nottingham, who will assist in PhD training of Vietnamese lecturers and researchers. The Transport Ministries of Vietnam and the UK also signed an aviation agreement between the two countries.