Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy receiving Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam.

On June 26, Do Duc Duy, Member of the Central Party Committee and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, received and held talks with Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam.

During the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Iain Frew and the United Kingdom for their strong support for Vietnam. The Minister acknowledged the valuable assistance that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has provided to Vietnam in responding to natural disasters, particularly the damage caused by typhoon Yagi and the severe flooding in Central Vietnam.

The timely support from the British Government, including an emergency aid package of £1 million, provided Vietnam with additional resources to respond to and recover from natural disasters. Minister Do Duc Duy noted that this support clearly reflects the strong spirit of cooperation and solidarity between the two nations

The timely support from the British Government, including an emergency aid package of £1 million, provided Vietnam with additional resources to respond to and recover from these natural disasters. This support clearly reflects the strong spirit of cooperation and solidarity between the two countries.

In his discussions with Minister Do Duc Duy, Ambassador Iain Frew expressed sympathy for the losses Vietnam has endured due to recent natural disasters. He also shared his admiration for the Government’s and local authorities' efforts in recovery and reconstruction, and praised the Vietnamese people's strong sense of community and solidarity.

Ambassador Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam

Given the significant impacts of extreme climate change, which are expected to result in more frequent natural disasters in the coming years, the United Kingdom proposed further cooperation between the two countries. This includes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of environment and climate between Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Ambassador Iain Frew believes that this MoU will serve as a strategic foundation for both sides to continue implementing effective cooperation programs in the future.

Minister Do Duc Duy noted that this would mark a milestone in the partnership between Vietnam and the United Kingdom in addressing climate change, protecting the environment, and promoting sustainable development. The MoU will focus on key areas such as the just energy transition, biodiversity conservation, and the carbon market.

Minister Do Duc Duy in discussion with Ambassador Iain Frew and the leadership of the British Embassy in Vietnam

Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that the MoU will bring practical benefits to both nations, helping Vietnam accelerate its energy transition, protect natural resources, and promote sustainable development, while the United Kingdom shares its expertise and provides technical support. Moreover, the MoU will contribute to global goals such as achieving net-zero emissions and fulfilling international commitments, including the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both sides agreed to organize the signing of this MoU during the upcoming visit of the United Kingdom's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development at the end of October.

During the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy and Ambassador Iain Frew also discussed areas of mutual interest, including the carbon market, Vietnam’s priorities for the upcoming Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Conventions on Biodiversity (COP16) and Climate Change (COP29), and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The United Kingdom, as a co-chair of JETP, has provided a £1.5 million grant to the JETP Secretariat, led by the Vietnamese Government. This demonstrates the strong commitment of both sides in supporting Vietnam’s sustainable energy transition.

Minister Do Duc Duy presenting a souvenir to Ambassador Iain Frew...

Ambassador Iain Frew acknowledged that Vietnam has significant advantages in natural resources, along with strong commitments from the Government and high levels of political determination at all levels. He emphasized the need for concrete projects to turn these commitments into actions that deliver tangible results. Given the recent successful cooperation between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Vietnam as a whole, Ambassador Frew affirmed that the United Kingdom and the British Embassy are ready to further strengthen cooperation in the future.

... and taking a photo with the working delegation from the British Embassy in Vietnam

Minister Do Duc Duy expressed his deep appreciation for the interest and support of Ambassador Frew and the British Government for Vietnam's environmental and climate initiatives. He believes that the strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to strengthen, especially as the world faces serious challenges from climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment looks forward to continuing close collaboration with the British Embassy and its partners to jointly address these global challenges.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)