Vietnam, UK sign letter of intent on customs cooperation

The cooperation program will last one year. The document is the initial start for the cooperative relation between the two sides, of which activities will be realized in order to meet the requirements of the two parties; contributing to ensuring security and facilitating global trade. 

In the long term, both sides will discuss and agree to propose the Governments consider and approve the negotiation of Government-level agreements on mutual cooperation and administrative assistance in the customs field. 

The event is one of the highlights tightening the cooperative relations between Vietnam and the UK in all fields, on the occasion of celebrating the 45^th anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties.

Over the past time, Vietnam-UK relations have developed positively, especially in economics and trade. In 2017, bilateral export turnover reached USD6.2 billion and increased regularly over the years. The UK is Vietnam’s third largest trade partners in the EU.

Earlier, the two sides signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on cooperating to prevent and fight against cross-border smuggling and customs in 2007 and capacity building in 2008.

At the same time, they proposed some mutual activities to assist verification, anti-smuggling and trade fraud, and exchange survey delegations and learn from each other’s experiences./.