The event saw the participation of more than 150 guests, including parliamentarians, government officials and representatives from departments, localities, organisations and businesses of the UK, and Vietnamese agencies, organisations, associations and enterprises in the host country.  

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, who co-chaired the function together with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long, stressed that the bilateral relationship is growing fruitfully, and an array of celebration activities will be held by the two embassies in London and Hanoi this year.

Reviewing developments of the relations over the past 50 years, she said the UK has become a strategic partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the support from Vietnam.

Vietnam is working hard to become one of the 30 biggest economies in the world, she said, noting that the UK would like to accompany the country on the journey, and stands ready and wishes to be Vietnam’s important partner in green transition.

The UK also expects to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year, thus contributing to enhancing its relations with Vietnam, Trevelyan continued.