On 29 October, in London (United Kingdom), on the sidelines of the official visit by Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hoang Long held a bilateral meeting with Chris McDonald, Minister of State for Industry under the UK Department for Business and Trade, and signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and relevant UK ministries.

Attending the meeting on the Vietnamese side were representatives from the Department of Foreign Market Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, and the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (PVN). On the UK side were Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, and Ms. Alex Smith, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and UK partners signed two cooperation MoUs: (1) an MoU on Clean Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); and (2) an MoU on Product Safety between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

The two MoUs were negotiated and signed based on the long-standing and effective cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and UK partners in trade and clean energy. They open new opportunities and reaffirm specific directions for collaboration under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during the visit of Party General Secretary To Lam.

In clean energy, the MoU between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the FCDO establishes the framework for the UK - Vietnam Clean Energy Partnership, building on existing cooperation between the two countries under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the UK - Vietnam Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), and other ongoing initiatives in green trade, infrastructure, and industrial development. This marks a strategic step forward in bilateral cooperation, aligning with both countries’ goals of achieving net-zero emissions and sustainable growth, and complements the Green Finance Partnership signed with Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance.

The MoU strengthens and expands cooperation on clean energy through initiatives such as expanding renewable energy and supporting the phase-down of coal power; enhancing grid infrastructure and electricity transmission; mobilizing public and private finance for the green transition; improving the legal framework to promote clean energy investment; fostering innovation and technology exchange; and promoting a comprehensive approach to a just energy transition for sustainable green growth.

In trade, the two sides signed the MoU on Product Safety between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the UK Department for Business and Trade. The document highlights the commitment of both sides to strengthen trade cooperation and promote robust bilateral trade through collaboration on: preventing unsafe or hazardous products in e-commerce; addressing emerging issues and trends in online product safety; exchanging information consistent with each side’s laws and interests; raising awareness among stakeholders; and sharing best practices in developing and managing e-commerce platforms, including facilitating digital trade, protecting consumers, and keeping pace with new market trends.

The signing of the two MoUs marks an important milestone in the partnership between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and UK ministries, contributing to the effective implementation of existing cooperation frameworks, the realization of commitments stated in the Joint Declaration on upgrading bilateral relations, and the promotion of sustainable economic growth in both countries.

Following the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long held further discussions with Minister of State Chris McDonald on ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in trade and energy, including within the CPTPP, UKVFTA, JETCO, and JETP frameworks.

Immediately after the bilateral meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long attended the UK - Vietnam Business Reception hosted by the UK Department for Business and Trade. The event gathered senior officials and representatives from major ministries, agencies, and enterprises of both countries. The reception was chaired by Matt Western, the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, and Minister of State Chris McDonald.