International

Vietnam and UK aim for strategic partnership with focus on digital and green transformation

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 5:03AM UTC

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Tô Lâm outlines plans to elevate bilateral ties with the UK through joint research, sustainable development, and strategic cooperation in science, technology, and climate action during his visit to Oxford University.

During an official visit to the United Kingdom, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm delivered a significant policy address at the University of Oxford, expressing his vision for a strengthened and sincere partnership between Việt Nam and the UK. He urged British youth, research institutions, universities, innovative enterprises, civil society organisations, and future policymakers to view Việt Nam as a trustworthy partner committed to shared responsibilities and benefits in an evolving global landscape. Lâm underscored Việt Nam’s dedication to peace, independence, self-reliance, and cooperation for mutual development, emphasizing a diplomatic approach grounded in respect for international law, dialogue, and mutual benefit rather than confrontation or coercion.

The Vietnamese leader presented a broad development agenda for Việt Nam centred on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, and the knowledge economy as crucial drivers for future growth. He highlighted Việt Nam’s commitment to promoting a green, circular, and low-carbon economy alongside its socialist-oriented market economy, which aims to balance market principles with social justice under the Communist Party’s leadership. The government's strategy places strong emphasis on the private sector as the main engine for economic acceleration, the state-owned sector as essential for macroeconomic stability and security, and good governance as vital to fostering public trust and equitable resource allocation. Lâm stressed that Việt Nam’s development model aims at tangible improvements in citizens’ quality of life, encompassing income, housing, healthcare, education, social welfare, and environmental sustainability, aligning with its strategic goals for 2030 and 2045 to become a modern, high-income, and equitable society.

Việt Nam’s ambitions dovetail with a desire to deepen and upgrade bilateral ties with the UK. The two countries plan to elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, placing it on par with the UK’s ties to major powers such as China, the United States, Russia, and France. This elevation marks a milestone in Việt Nam’s foreign policy under General Secretary Lâm’s leadership and reflects a mutual commitment to peace, stability, maritime freedom, resilient supply chains, fair trade, sustainable development, and climate action. Lâm outlined a “new model of cooperation” that goes beyond technology transfer to co-creating future opportunities by combining the UK’s expertise in advanced science, technology, healthcare, education, urban governance, energy transition, and financial services with Việt Nam’s priorities in digital and green transformation, human resources development, innovation, and institutional reform.

Concrete steps towards this collaborative vision have already been initiated, including several agreements witnessed by General Secretary Lâm at Oxford University. These encompass a partnership between the Tam Anh Institute of Research and Oxford on healthcare training, research, and innovation; a research collaboration between Vietjet Air and Oxford on achieving net-zero carbon emissions in aviation through sustainable fuels, carbon offsetting, reforestation, renewable energy, and AI applications; and the establishment of the Oxford Pioneer Scholarship Fund, supported by Sovico Group and Oxford, which provides scholarships to outstanding Vietnamese scholars across healthcare, science, and business disciplines. These initiatives are expected to support joint research and pilot projects in critical areas such as public health, biotechnology, AI governance, climate change, clean energy, sustainable urban development, green finance, open education, and digital healthcare.

The UK’s commitment to this partnership is reflected not only in diplomatic elevation but also through existing networks such as the UK Science & Innovation Network (SIN) in Vietnam. SIN aims to bolster cooperation in areas including global health, climate and energy, emerging technologies, and science diplomacy, working closely with the British Council, the Department for Business and Trade, and the British Embassy in Hanoi. The refreshed UK-Vietnam strategic partnership also prioritises sustainable growth, focusing on urbanisation, water management, environmental protection, ocean governance, healthcare, and innovation. Both nations have reaffirmed their dedication to combating climate change through concrete actions aligned with the Paris Agreement, promoting sustainable consumption and production, and supporting Vietnam’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

Such collaboration is further supported by broader economic initiatives, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s call for breakthrough cooperation in connectivity, digital transformation, green initiatives, and financial services. Vietnamese enterprises are encouraged to integrate into global production and distribution chains with British support, reflecting a comprehensive approach to bilateral economic partnership that aims to promote prosperity, peace, and regional stability.

Moreover, Vietnamese academic institutions have been actively expanding ties with UK universities, fostering collaboration in education, research, and sustainable development. The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, for instance, has developed partnerships with multiple UK universities to facilitate student exchanges, joint research, seminars, and conferences that deepen educational and scientific linkages, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral Vietnam-UK relations.

General Secretary Lâm concluded his address by reiterating Việt Nam’s aspiration to become a prosperous, humane, modern, and environmentally conscious nation, underpinned by values of peace, freedom, cooperation, and respect for international law. He envisioned Việt Nam-UK relations as a model of strategic, practical cooperation with mutual respect and long-term vision, not only benefiting the two countries but also serving as a force for global peace, stability, and sustainable development in the 21st century.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Vietnam News), ^[4] (Nhan Dan)
Paragraph 2 – ^[1] (Vietnam News), ^[4] (Nhan Dan)
Paragraph 3 – ^[1] (Vietnam News), ^[2] (Reuters)
Paragraph 4 – ^[1] (Vietnam News), ^[2] (Reuters)
Paragraph 5 – ^[1] (Vietnam News), ^[3] (UK Government SIN), ^[5] (UK Government)
Paragraph 6 – ^[6] (Vietnam Government), ^[5] (UK Government)
Paragraph 7 – ^[7] (UEH News)
Paragraph 8 – ^[1] (Vietnam News)

Source: Noah Wire Services

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Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being October 29, 2025. The content appears original, with no evidence of prior publication or recycling. The article includes updated data and quotes, indicating a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative is not based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No republishing across low-quality sites or clickbait networks was identified.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The quotes used in the narrative are unique and have not been found in earlier material. No identical quotes appear elsewhere, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative originates from Vietnam News, a reputable organisation. However, the presence of similar content on Nhan Dan Online raises questions about the originality of the report. The Vietnamese leader's speech at the University of Oxford has been reported by multiple reputable sources, including Reuters and the UK Government. The presence of similar content on Nhan Dan Online raises questions about the originality of the report.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with recent developments in Vietnam-UK relations. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The tone and language used are consistent with official communications from the Vietnamese government. No excessive or off-topic details unrelated to the claim were identified.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative is fresh and includes unique quotes, indicating originality. However, the presence of similar content on Nhan Dan Online raises questions about the originality of the report. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. Given these factors, the overall assessment is 'OPEN' with medium confidence.

Vietnam-UK relations
International diplomacy
Green economy
Digital transformation