HCMC — Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom from October 28 to 30 at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam–UK Strategic Partnership.
The visit carries a strong message of Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy — independence, self-reliance, and a commitment to peace, cooperation, and development. It underscores the nation’s goal of expanding international partnerships and strengthening its role as a responsible member of the global community.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said the UK is a global power and a leading nation in technology, defense, finance, and innovation — sectors that align with Vietnam’s development priorities. She said Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to industrialize and integrate deeply into the global economy make the UK a strategic and complementary partner. Party General Secretary To Lam’s upcoming visit, she added, is expected to generate breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation across sectors of mutual interest.
Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations on September 11, 1973, with the UK being one of the first Western countries to do so. Over the past five decades, the two countries have strengthened cooperation and people-to-people ties.
In 2010, the two sides signed a joint statement establishing the Strategic Partnership, which laid the foundation for expanded collaboration. In 2020, they adopted another joint statement outlining the partnership’s direction for the next decade.
The UK is currently Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in Europe, while Vietnam is the UK’s biggest trading partner in Southeast Asia. The two countries signed a free trade agreement after Brexit, helping bilateral trade expand steadily in recent years.
The UK has 587 active projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of around US$4.46 billion, ranking 15th among 152 foreign investors.
More than 12,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the UK, and cooperation in education, culture, and innovation continues to grow.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hang said the visit will provide a foundation for expanding cooperation and launching new projects that match both countries’ strengths and interests.
