| The delegation consists of Deputy PM, FM Phạm Gia Khiêm, leaders of the Government Office and the ministries of Planning and Investment, Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Education and Training, State Bank, Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the State Securities Commission. The visits are aimed at developing a comprehensive partnership with the EU; increasing political ties and mutual understanding; and raising Việt Nam’s position in Europe. Through the PM’s visits, Việt Nam expects to make breakthroughs in economic, trade and investment relations with these countries in a deeper and more fruitful way; encourage businesses from those countries to do more investment in and grant more ODA to Việt Nam. Another focus of the visits is to boost bilateral cooperation in culture, education, science–technology, tourism, and labor. Over the past years, the relationship between Việt Nam and the UK has been strongly developing, especially in economy, trade and investment. The UK is now topping among EU non-refundable aid donors for Việt Nam (around US $100 million/year). In terms of direct investment, it ranks third (after the Netherlands and France) with over US $1.4 billion. Many leading economic group from the UK are operating in Việt Nam in petroleum, mining, finance, banking, manufacture industry, and garment. The Federal Republic of Germany is Việt Nam’s biggest EU partner with the two-way trade turnover reaching over US $3 billion in 2007, rising up more than 50%. Many German groups, including Metro, DaimlerChrysler, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Allianz, Bayer are doing business in Việt Nam. Though just establishing the diplomatic ties in 1996, the Việt Nam-Ireland friendship is achieving remarkable progresses. On the occasion of the ASEM-5 Summit held in October 2004 in Hà Nội, the Irish PM decided to open the Embassy in Hà Nội and grant ODA to Việt Nam. Since then, Việt Nam is the only Asian country receiving ODA from Ireland. By late 2007, Ireland had four investment projects in Việt Nam, worth of US $4.3 million, focusing on real estate, restaurant, and sale of sport instruments. By Xuân Hồng |
