Director for the Asia-Pacific in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated that the agency’s human-rights report applauds Vietnam’s progress in ensuring social and economic rights.

Scott Wightman, Director for the Asia-Pacific in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

VietNamNet Bridge – In a press conference in Hanoi on March 23, Scott Wightman, Director for the Asia-Pacific in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, stated that his agency had submitted its annual human rights report to British parliament. Their report acknowledges and applauds Vietnam’s progress in ensuring social and economic rights.

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Wightman also said that Britain is interested in five fields in Vietnam: trade, education, international relations, development and organizational crime prevention.

Britain has invested $2 billion in Vietnam and it aims to raise the figure to $3 billion. This country considers Vietnam as a significant export market with its annual growth rate of 25 percent. Britain expects Vietnam to implement changes in policies to lift or lessen barriers for foreign investors.

In terms of education, around 7000 Vietnamese students are studying in Britain. British Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent observed that many British universities will appear in Vietnam very soon, including the Vietnam-Britain University Project.

He said that Vietnam’s former membership on the UN Security Council and its current ASEAN Chairmanship are good foundations for cooperation between Vietnam and Britain. This country expects Vietnam and ASEAN to raise stronger voices to promote political harmony in Myanmar to prepare for the election at this year’s end.

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) and Vietnam will have a mid-term review of the 10-year assistance program.

Wightman stressed that combating organizational crime is a challenge for both countries, especially human trafficking from Vietnam to Britain and Vietnamese’s drug production and trade in Britain. Vietnam currently ranks fourth for the number of prisoners in Britain. Most Vietnamese prisoners were involved in human trafficking and/or drug production and trade crimes.

He said that illegal migration of Vietnamese people to Britain is mainly caused by wrong information about the situation in the UK. The two countries will implement an information campaign to warn of the risks and dangers of the trafficking and drug crime as well as to facilitate the repatriation of illegal Vietnamese immigrants in Britain.

Thuy Chung