Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue arrived at Hanoi on July 1 afternoon, successfully wrapping up his official visits to Hungary and the United Kingdom from June 26 – 30, VNA reported.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: VNA

Hue held talks with top legislators, met with government leaders and ministers of Hungary and the UK and witnessed the signing of a number of memoranda of understanding on cooperation between ministries and localities.

He took the occasion to thank Hungarian and British leaders and people for donating Covid-19 vaccines and test kits to help Vietnam combat the pandemic.

The NA Chairman also met with heads of friendship parliamentary groups, friendship associations, corporations and universities in the two countries; attended high-level forums on trade, economy, investment and education; and visited Vietnamese communities there.

The visits aimed to deepen bilateral cooperation with the two European countries and showed the Party's and State's care for Vietnamese expatriates.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) meets Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Photo: VNA

The signing of an agreement between the Vietnamese and Hungarian National Assemblies marked a new milestone in the two sides’ relations, lifting the bilateral parliamentary ties to a new height.

Local media of Hungary have highlighted the visit by Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, which was made from June 26-28 at the invitation of Speaker of the Hungarian NA László Kövér.

The Hungary Today newspaper on June 28 ran a story entitled “House Speaker Kövér: Vietnam Is a Key Partner”, quoting the Hungarian top legislator as saying after his talks with NA Chairman Hue that Vietnam is Hungary’s key partner in Southeast Asia.

While agricultural exports to Vietnam surpass imports, Hungary has “much to do” in developing bilateral economic ties, Kövér said in a joint statement after the talks.

Noting that Hue led a delegation of various experts, Kövér said the visit was “promising” regarding inter-governmental, scientific, and educational cooperation, the article reported.

After the talks, the speakers signed cooperation agreements between the Hungarian parliament and the Vietnamese National Assembly, as did the two countries’ justice ministries, according to the article.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and his Hungarian counterpart László Kövér at the press meeting on June 27. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, the Budapest daily (Budapester Zeitung) also ran an article highlighting the partnership between Hungary and Vietnam. The article reported that Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán had a meeting with the Vietnamese NA leader, during which the two sides discussed measures to further bolster bilateral partnership, especially in areas of tourism, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

In its writing, Magyar Hang (Hungarian Voice) newspaper said the two countries’ comprehensive partnership has been growing strongly, and that Hungary was one of the first countries to ratify the EVFTA and EVIPA.

It also noted Vietnam has bigger advantages compared to other Southeast Asian nations when it comes to trade with the EU thanks to the two agreements.

ParlamentniListy.cz, the biggest commentary website in the Czech Republic, also posted an article on the top Vietnamese legislator’s visit to Hungary.

News platform EUtoday.net published an article on opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU in response to new challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

It said ASEAN countries are identified as partners with a central role in the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy. Meanwhile, Hue's visit is an opportunity for European leaders and Vietnam to exchange and strengthen political trust, further increasing the effectiveness of Vietnam - EU cooperation in international and regional issues.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended the Vietnam-UK high-level forum on economy and trade in London on June 29 (local time). Photo: VNA

Hue’s visit to the UK, meanwhile, intended to step up the bilateral partnership and push for the effectively implementation of the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

It was also expected to create new engine for the development of the two nations’ ties in politics, diplomacy, trade, economy, education and training, climate change response and others.

In 2021, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, trade between the countries reached USD 6.6 billion, equaling that of 2019 and increasing by 17% annually.

According to the data of the General Department of Vietnam Customs, in the first five months of 2022, Vietnam exported to the UK USD 2.38 billion worth of goods and spent more than USD 304 million on products from the market.

The visits also provided a chance for the top leader to voice Vietnam’s stance on several regional and global issues of mutual concern.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) at a meeting with Kenneth Atkinson, head of the British Business Group in Vietnam (Britcham), and representatives of British groups and investment funds operating in Vietnam. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese and UK officials said they wish to turn defence cooperation into a pillar in the countries’ overall relations at the first session of the fourth Vietnam-UK defence policy dialogue held in London as part of Chairman Hue’s ongoing UK trip.

With the bilateral defence cooperation sustained effectively, the officials considered the dialogue an important mechanism for the two defence bodies to review outcomes of and put forth future orientations for their join works.

They said they hope to further step up the existing cooperation contents, including delegation exchange, training, and UN peacekeeping activities.

The two sides also agreed to work together in the plan and conduction of practical join activities in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations and to hold the second session in Hanoi later this year.

Chairman Hue also received leaders of some enterprises of the UK in London including Prudential Chairwoman Shriti Vadera, Chairman of Standard Chartered Jose Vinals, President of Pacific Land Partrick McKillen, Chris Cuddihy - Director for UK & International Government Relations at Pearson, and Chairman of Enteprize Energy Ian Hatton.

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