On the morning of November 26, Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (PPC), together with leaders of relevant departments, branches and units, had a meeting with the British Embassy Delegation led by Mr. Ian Frew - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam to visit and work in Nghe An.

Overview of the meeting

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the PPC Bui Dinh Long expressed his pleasure to welcome the delegation of the British Embassy in Vietnam and the UK Home Office to visit and work in Nghe An in the context of the strategic partnership between the two countries continuing to develop well in all fields in recent times.

Notably, at the end of October this year, UK Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Catherine West co-chaired the 10^th Viet Nam-UK Strategic Dialogue, demonstrating the interest and determination of both sides to promote areas of cooperation.

Vice Chairman of the PPC Bui Dinh Long informs Mr. Iain Frew - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam and the working delegation about the general features of Nghe An province

The Vice Chairman of the PPC said that last June, he joined a high-level delegation of the province led by the Provincial Party Secretary to visit and work in the UK. He and the delegation were particularly impressed with the United Kingdom - a beautiful country with ancient architecture, poetic natural landscapes and a long-standing culture.

This is the first time the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam has visited and worked in Nghe An. Vice Chairman of the PPC Bui Dinh Long introduced an overview of the characteristics as well as the socio-economic development situation of the province.

Regarding cooperation with the UK, after more than 50 years of establishing official diplomatic relations (1973 - 2024) and 14 years of Strategic Partnership (2010 - 2024), Viet Nam - UK cooperation has made strong developments, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, security, defense, education, training, etc.

In 2014, Vinh city, Nghe An and Newhaven - where President Ho Chi Minh first set foot when he arrived in the UK (in 1913) established friendly and cooperative relations. During his recent visit and work in the UK, Comrade Thai Thanh Quy, former Secretary of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, met and discussed with the Government of Newhaven town to promote a number of bilateral activities, in which the two sides agreed to cooperate in rearranging the exhibition space of President Ho Chi Minh at the Newhaven Maritime Museum in a more solemn position, Nghe An province supported part of the cost and gave Newhaven an art painting of President Ho Chi Minh to display at the Museum.

Regarding investment cooperation, Nghe An currently has 01 project of a British investor in the field of design and garment production with a total registered investment capital of 3.8 million USD.

In terms of trade, in 2023, export turnover to the UK market will reach 12.5 million USD, and in the first 10 months of 2024 it is estimated to reach nearly 22 million USD. Main export items are corrugated iron, steel of all kinds, footwear, textiles, and processed fruits.

Import turnover from the UK market in 2023 reached 271 thousand USD, in the first 10 months of 2024 it reached 835,000 USD. The main imported items are textile raw materials, leather, and animal feed.

In addition, Nghe An has also benefited from UK aid programs on human trafficking prevention; climate change prevention; education and training development cooperation, etc.

During his working visit to Nghe An, Vice Chairman of the PPC Bui Dinh Long expressed his hope and requested that the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam create a bridge to introduce enterprises to learn about and invest in Nghe An province; pay attention to the issue of promoting trade and investment between the United Kingdom and Nghe An.

Currently, Nghe An province has prepared platforms and ecosystems to welcome British enterprises in high-tech fields such as: Manufacturing industry, production of materials, electronic components, financial services, and banking. The attractive fields aim to meet the requirements of innovation, digital economy, green economy, circular economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy, climate change response economy, new energy, renewable energy for sustainable development.

Nghe An province is committed to always accompanying and creating favorable conditions for British enterprises to invest successfully, sustainably and long-term in Nghe An.

The province also requested to continue receiving support from the British Government in supporting the work of preventing human trafficking, cooperation in combating climate change, and education and training, etc.

Mr. Iain Frew - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Vietnam expresses his impression when visiting and working in Nghe An

Expressing his joy at visiting and working in Nghe An province, the impression of the scenery of Vinh city and the warm welcome of the provincial leaders, departments and branches for the working delegation made the Ambassador feel like he was returning to his homeland, England.

As Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam, Mr. Iain Frew affirmed that he will continue to coordinate with the province to implement investment promotion activities, promote friendly relations and cooperation between Nghe An province and agencies and organizations of the United Kingdom, especially in the fields related to education and training, climate change, prevention of illegal migration, human trafficking, etc. The Ambassador said that in the coming time, he will connect and support Nghe An province to call for UK investors to invest in the locality in areas where the province has strengths and is prioritizing investment attraction.

During his working program in Nghe An, Mr. Iain Frew - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Viet Nam visits and talks with teachers and students of Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2 - Nghe An

At the end of the working session, Vice Chairman of the PPC Bui Dinh Long wished for the comprehensive strategic partnership and cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in general, and Nghe An and the UK in particular, to develop further; wished the delegation of the UK Embassy in Viet Nam a successful and fruitful working trip to Nghe An province.

PQ