In a significant diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng welcomed the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Việt Nam, Iain Frew, in Hà Nội on Wednesday. During the meeting, the Prime Minister underscored Việt Nam’s commitment to nurturing strong ties with the UK. He expressed gratitude to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his congratulatory note following Hưng’s recent election, emphasizing the positive role played by Ambassador Frew and the British Embassy in enhancing bilateral relations. This relationship was notably elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Party General Secretary Tô Lâm to the UK in October 2025.
Prime Minister Hưng identified numerous areas ripe for increased cooperation between the two nations, including trade, investment, finance, science, technology, education, green transition, renewable energy, and defense. He proposed an increase in high-level visits and exchanges to develop an action plan for the Việt Nam–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Furthermore, he set ambitious goals for economic collaboration, aiming to boost bilateral trade turnover to US$10 billion by 2026 and ultimately $15 billion, facilitated by mutual market access improvements.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Việt Nam International Financial Centre (VIFC), the Prime Minister called for UK support in enhancing Việt Nam’s institutional capacities, legal frameworks, and financial instruments to attract resources for key infrastructure projects. He also urged the UK to continue supporting the integration of the Vietnamese community within the UK, which contributes positively to both nations’ socio-economic landscapes.
Ambassador Frew expressed admiration for Việt Nam’s recent socio-economic progress and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations across diverse fields. He acknowledged Việt Nam’s pivotal role as the Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2026 and emphasized the UK’s readiness to facilitate both bilateral and international trade. British investors remain optimistic about Việt Nam’s prospects, especially in energy, finance, and green transition sectors, with the UK eager to be a long-term partner in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to continue enhancing defense and security cooperation and to promote collaboration in science, technology, and education. There was a shared commitment to making English a second language in Vietnamese schools and advancing green finance initiatives. On regional and international matters, both sides pledged to strengthen coordination at multilateral platforms, bolster ASEAN–UK relations, and advocate for freedom and security of navigation, contributing to regional and global peace and stability.