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I watch the General Secretary’s plane taxi off to a Heathrow runway. It had taken nearly forty years since the beginning of diplomatic relations to stage that historic handshake. But there was just enough time to return to Whitehall and then get out to Gatwick for the direct flight inaugurated a year ago. I arrived back in Hanoi just in time to welcome Lord Astor at Noi Bai.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron meets Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in London, 22 January 2013. Photo: Tri Dzung, VNA.
It is rare to see a landmark event such as the historic first visit by a Vietnam Communist Party Chief to London at the invitation of the Prime Minister.
That was no small affair: a delegation of more than a hundred party leaders, ministers and officials were involved in a wide-ranging programme enabling several new agreements, binding us closer, interweaving our work with the Government with engagement with the Party.
We have opened the door to an ambitious future.
It is rarer still to see two milestone visits in opposite directions in little more than a week. Lord Astor of Hever, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, has become the first British Defence Minister to set foot on Vietnamese ground.
His schedule included visits to Vietnamese army, navy and air force units as well as formal talks with Vice Minister General Nguyen Chi Vinh. This is all part of our new bilateral defence agenda.
Lord Astor and Vice Minister of Defence Major General Nguyen Chi Vinh
I have made defence and security a major part of my career. I was proud to attend the UK Defence Academy’s Higher Command and Staff Course in 2009, quite simply the most impressive course of education I have experienced.
This has helped me see the value of working with Vietnam on defence issues, and on encouraging respect for international law. That is a difficult agenda because the international legal system is frankly weak. But it may be the best hope we have of preventing international bullying.
As Vietnam’s influence grows, it can also become a stronger influence on “non-conventional” threats such as proliferation of outlawed weapons, or cyber crime, or terrorism, and we should work together to keep the region and the world at peace.
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Dear Antony, thank you very much for this excellent report. Well , if it had taken 40 years since the start of these outstanding diplomatic relations between the S.R. Vietnam and Great Britain I only can add sthg. positive – by using wise words of Chinese Philosoph Laotse : “…Every friendship , even the longest, has started with a first single step…”. In this case a 1st. wise step in 1973 into a better , successful and peaceful future. To the benefits of both partners as far as I can see. So CONGRATULATIONS to you and Prime Minister David Cameron for continuing it with wise/clever movements and this policy during the last years. I.e.: PM D. Cameron ´s invitation to the Vietnam Communist Party Chief , Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong to London. To me is such an invitaton not only a “landmark event” – it ´s also a “milestone”, “turning point ” or ” break-through”. A masterpiece in re. of a diplomatic policy. In my opinion it will strengthen the economic (fairer trade), political (human rights) and social (healthcare) UK- VIETNAMESE links to a new and higher level as ever before reached. E.g.: “Re- building up ” this country, (infrastructure). Pls. compare this just with your article of Spring ´12 , “Designng a unique city”. Far before the time and “par excellance”. And so is your describing of the meeting with Lord Astor of Hever at Noi Bai. It ´s just speaking for itself….(“…1st. British Defence Minister on…Vietnamese ground….). You spoke/wrote directly right out of my heart by saying that this is “… the best hope we have of preventing international bullying…”.Such ( soon regulary ?) meetings with Vietnamese Vice Minister of Defence Major General Nguyen Chi Vinh could / should be a ground pillar for keeping the entire Asian – Area safer and with more freedom rights. And this “BIG AFFAIR” with 100 ´s of Party Leaders, Delegations and huge programme activities iduring this London-Days 2013. So you didn ´t open a “door”- you ´ve opened an entire gate to an “ambitious future”. I only can compare it with the former German reunion. They all sang …”Jetzt wächst zusammen was zusammen gehört – now we are getting closer and growing closer..”.In other words: The UK-VIETNAMESE strategic partnership is getting closer and better.It takes only patience and time. To conclude: I still can remember a fab song ” Eight days a week…”So what about a next headline:”Eight days a week for making big history”. BW, Ingo-Steven Wais,Wuerttemberg/Cymru, Cardiff
Dear Antony,
pls. let me add these following short lines to my comment :Of course, I ´ve also (tried ) to read ( and understand !) this “Strategic Dialogue Communique ” of Hanoi , July 5th, 2012. I think that Mr. Jeremy Browne and you wrote a lot of this paper/document. I do strongly guess that the background was in re. of these entire UK – VIETNAMESE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP. Nevertheless : By comparing it with the new situation in February 2013 it looks to me that nearly all of the topics have become reality or will become during this year.
BW, Ingo-Steven Wais , Wuerttemberg.
Sorry – due to technical problems I couldn ´t reach you.
BW, Ingo-Steven