The delegation from Hanoi led by Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - Hanoi Chapter Nguyen Lan Huong has concluded their visit and working mission to the UK and Ireland from October 6-14.

During the trip, they engaged in a range of significant activities, spanning diplomacy, fostering people-to-people connections, and advancing initiatives related to trade, investment, and tourism promotion.

An overview of the signing ceremony. Photos: Linh Nguyen/ The Hanoi Times

From October 6 to 7, while in Ireland, the delegation engaged in several important activities. They paid a visit to the Honorary Consulate Office of Vietnam in Dublin, held discussions with the Vietnamese community, and met with representatives from various organizations including the Vietnamese Association in Ireland, the Vietnamese Women's Association, and the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in the UK and Ireland. Additionally, they interacted with Vietnamese students and researchers pursuing their studies in Ireland.

During their time in Ireland, the delegation also had the opportunity to explore Trinity University and visit various cultural and historical landmarks. They also actively participated in cultural exchange programs organized by the local Vietnamese community in Dublin.

On October 9, the delegation, joined by representatives from different regions, took part in the promotional program for Vietnam in the UK. They met with officials and staff at the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and held discussions with members of the Vietnamese community in London.

The Hanoi delegation, officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and representatives of the Vietnamese community in London.

Nguyen Hoang Long, the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland, highly appreciated the purpose and significance of the trip in the context of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK.

Given the unique advantages of Hanoi and the status of the UK as one of the two major international financial centers, the Ambassador expressed the desire for Hanoi to connect and cooperate with the UK in international finance.

The Ambassador affirmed that the embassy has always been a bridge for Vietnamese localities, including Hanoi, to promote trade with counterparts in the UK in various areas such as trade, import-export, information technology, digital transformation, education, and training, with a particular focus on digital economy and clean energy transition.

On October 10, the Hanoi delegation, along with representatives from Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Ha Nam, Lam Dong, and Kien Giang provinces, attended joint activities of the Vietnamese delegation and had a meeting with Chaman Lal, Lord Mayor of Birmingham, at the City Hall.

During the meeting, they introduced the potential and strengths of Birmingham, exchanged issues of mutual interest, and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham expressed his hope that the visit would open up more investment cooperation opportunities between the two cities and other provinces of Vietnam.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - Hanoi Chapter Nguyen Lan Huong presented souvenir gifts to the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

On the same day, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long attended the "Connecting Vietnam and the West Midlands" seminar, emphasizing that it marked the first Vietnam promotion event held in Birmingham and was well-prepared.

During the seminar, Chairwoman Huong stated that Vietnam remains a safe, attractive, and promising destination for foreign businesses and investors. The Hanoi authorities consistently value and stand ready to provide the best conditions for British businesses and investors interested in investing and conducting business in Hanoi, known as a "City for Peace" and a "Creative City."

She emphasized that Hanoi is keen to promote connections, investment, trade, and tourism with British partners in various sectors, including finance, high technology (especially biotechnology), digital transformation, green industry, AI, blockchain, high-tech agriculture, culture, education, and tourism.

Representatives from Birmingham expressed high appreciation for the investment cooperation proposals from Hanoi and committed to concretizing them through working meetings with Hanoi's partners, with the belief that the cooperative relationship will become increasingly effective.

Concluding the seminar, several memoranda of cooperation were signed between the two sides.

This successful visit was also a significant event, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK, the 13th anniversary of the strategic partnership, and the 69th anniversary of the Liberation Day of Hanoi (from October 10, 1954, to October 10, 2023).