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| Former British Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent. (Photo: Xuan Son) |
Vietnamese cuisine, English Premier League and Scottish whisky
Former British Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent expressed his joy at returning to Vietnam, where he worked from 2007-2010. In 2022, changing his career path, he was invited to be the Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Friendship Network, in charge of promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, with a role equivalent to the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). In addition, as General Director of the Scotch Whisky Association, he had many opportunities to visit the S-shaped country, because "Vietnamese people love Scottish whisky".
“I am really impressed with the changes in Vietnam over the past 15 years. From my last visit in 2010 to my return in 2023 until now, I have clearly seen the economic development, international integration, trade and innovation of Vietnam. Those changes are also reflected in the Vietnam-UK relationship, which is increasingly expanding and deepening,” said Mr. Mark Kent.
According to the former British Ambassador, Vietnam is now much more dynamic and internationally integrated. Vietnam has significant soft power and is viewed very positively by the world. The two countries are cooperating in many areas, from climate change to security, migration, trade, culture, tourism, and sports . In particular, promoting people-to-people exchange is one of the important priorities.
The Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Friendship Network stressed that in addition to the relationship between politicians and leaders, the core is to enhance mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. He assessed that Vietnam has significant soft power, demonstrated through tourism and cuisine. Similarly, the UK also builds its image through the Premier League football tournament and Scottish whisky. Both countries know how to promote positive values while preserving their traditional identities.
“When I was an Ambassador, I visited many areas in the UK with former VUFO President, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, including watching a football match at Grimsby Town Football Club, not a big team, but located near my hometown. I thought it was a great experience. Even a dish like 'fish and chips', an iconic dish in the UK, most of the seafood imported for this dish comes from Vietnam, showing the connection at all levels,” Mr. Mark Kent recalled.
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Vietnamese beef pho is listed in the list of 100 delicious dishes in the world in 2024 by the culinary website Taste Atlas. (Source: Ngon Ha Noi) |
British diplomats consider tourism and cuisine to be two strengths of Vietnam. More and more British people choose Vietnam as a destination, especially for high-end tourism, followed by cuisine, because Vietnamese food is very popular in the UK, giving an impression of sophistication and attractiveness. Recently, many Vietnamese films have appeared in the foggy country, and Vietnamese art and cultural activities are also becoming more widely known. All of these factors contribute to building a positive image of Vietnam in the UK.
Reliable, solid, adaptive partner
Over the past 10-15 years, the two countries have witnessed strong growth in bilateral trade, expanding into new areas such as high technology, financial services, innovation and artificial intelligence (AI). In particular, the former British Ambassador affirmed that education is a sustainable area of cooperation, with many Vietnamese students studying in the UK, many of whom receive scholarships. They not only contribute to Vietnam's economic future but also act as a bridge to promote mutual understanding.
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| Former British Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent during a sharing session with Fulbright University students in February 2023. (Source: Fulbright) |
During this visit, the Chairman of the Vietnam-UK Friendship Network plans to discuss with Vietnam the development of an international financial center, as well as expanding bilateral trade relations, focusing on the organization of the Vietnam-UK Joint Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee (JETCO) in July. This year is also the 15th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership, and Mr. Mark Kent hopes to elevate this relationship to a level commensurate with the progress made in recent times.
Assessing the prospects of bilateral relations, the former British Ambassador highlighted the role of the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement as a boost to promote cooperation in modern fields such as high technology, services and artificial intelligence. Education and skills development to adapt to new technology and climate change are also common concerns, in which Vietnam has a lot of experience and the two countries are cooperating very well.
One emerging challenge is governance capacity in the modern era, how to make the administrative and public service system meet the needs of the people. This is a problem not only for Vietnam, but also for the UK. “In addition, in the face of global challenges in technology, trade systems and security, the two countries need a trustworthy and solid partnership to adapt together. We want to build a foundation of sustainable institutional cooperation, share experiences to respond to new challenges together,” the British diplomat emphasized.
From the perspective of a person who has always been attached to and always had special affection for Vietnam, former British Ambassador Mark Kent recounted the passionate journey of connecting the two countries with a relationship that has lasted for more than half a century. That journey started from the daily connections of cuisine, football and education, becoming a living proof of the deep and promising Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/quan-he-viet-anh-u-tu-whiskey-nem-ba-ng-am-thuc-va-lan-to-a-qua-giao-luu-nhan-dan-319018.html
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