Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long (R) speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Long briefed them on the latest achievements in bilateral ties, especially in trade, education, security defence and people-to-people exchange.

According to him, two-way trade rose by 25% in the first six months of 2021, and the goal to raise it to US$10 billion in the next five years is feasible.

Potential for trade cooperation remains huge, especially in the context that Vietnam is entering a new economic development stage with average per capita GDP targets of US$3,500 by 2025 and US$7,000 by 2030.

As one of Vietnam’s leading partners, the UK can meet the country’s economic development demand in its strong fields such as science-technology, he stated.

The diplomat affirmed that education is the priority in bilateral collaboration, and the UK is Vietnam’s leading partner in this field, with 74 trans-national programmes of 23 British universities.

Cooperation in defence security has also developed as well, as the UK is expanding its presence in the East Sea/South China Sea and Southeast Asia and considering Vietnam its main partner in the Indo-Pacific, he added.

VUKN President Warwick Morris suggested the two countries intensify cooperation in health, particularly in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and in science technology and mechanics.