On August 18, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung received Iain Frew, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Viet Nam, discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, the environment, agricultural, forestry and fisheries trade, and climate change response within the framework of the Viet Nam – UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
At the meeting, Ambassador Iain Frew recognized the central role of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in achieving Viet Nam’s growth targets, with responsibilities covering agricultural production and exports, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, forests, water resources, climate, nature and the environment.
The Ambassador emphasized the importance of cooperation in agriculture, the environment and green growth within the framework of the Viet Nam – UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and welcomed Minister Trinh Viet Hung’s working visit to the United Kingdom in late August 2026.
According to the Ambassador, the two sides are currently implementing cooperation in a number of areas, including the Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership; technical programs on achieving net-zero emissions and strengthening climate resilience; trade dialogues under the UKVFTA and CPTPP; as well as the United Kingdom’s participation in the Food Systems Transformation Partnership led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
The Ambassador proposed that the two sides coordinate in developing an Action Plan to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, incorporating cooperation areas covered by existing memorandums of understanding on climate, nature, agriculture and the environment. The UK side also said that working groups are reviewing and updating the areas of cooperation, including the addition of agricultural trade.
In his discussion with Ambassador Iain Frew, Minister Trinh Viet Hung said that Viet Nam – UK cooperation in agriculture and the environment has developed strongly in recent years, becoming one of the important pillars of the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He highly appreciated the UK’s support for Viet Nam’s agriculture and environment sectors through the COAST, FGMC and CARA programs.
According to the Minister, bilateral cooperation is expanding from agricultural trade into green transition, climate change adaptation, scientific research, innovation and sustainable agricultural development. The two countries are highly complementary: the UK has strengths in science and technology, supply chain management, precision agriculture, resource management, quarantine and biosecurity, while Viet Nam has advantages in tropical agricultural production, fisheries and a dynamic consumer market.
Regarding trade in agricultural, forestry and fisheries products, Ambassador Iain Frew said the value of Viet Nam’s agricultural exports to the UK has increased by 69% since the UKVFTA took effect, now exceeding £700 million. The Ambassador also welcomed the first shipment of Vietnamese guava to the UK, which was exported last month.
Minister Trinh Viet Hung said bilateral agricultural trade reached USD 1.16 billion in 2025, up 20% from 2024. Viet Nam called on the UK to continue facilitating market access for Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fisheries products, including completing market access procedures for processed poultry meat at an early date and considering arrangements to facilitate market access for businesses that have been assessed by the UK as meeting the relevant requirements.
Regarding UK products of animal origin, the two sides discussed difficulties with registering meat and fishery establishments, animal protein meal, and salmon. The Minister assigned the Department of Animal Health and Production to continue coordinating with the UK side to address specific technical issues. The two sides also exchanged views on forest governance, the Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS), sustainable timber supply chains, VPA-FLEGT, and experience in combating deforestation.
Regarding the environment and climate change, Minister Trinh Viet Hung said Viet Nam is prioritizing efforts to ensure that COP31 shifts decisively from commitments to implementation, while ensuring fairness and taking into account the circumstances of developing countries. Viet Nam is also focusing on climate change adaptation and mobilizing international finance and technology.
Viet Nam is developing and finalizing its NDC 3.0, which it expects to submit to the UNFCCC Secretariat ahead of COP31. At COP31, Viet Nam plans to organize a Pavilion to showcase its achievements in climate change response and launch the initiative on “Partnership for Climate-smart and Responsible Agriculture-Food and Forestry Value Chains (P-CRAFT)”. Viet Nam also hopes that the UK will support the initiative and cooperate in organizing events of mutual interest.
Regarding his working visit to the United Kingdom in late August 2026, Minister Trinh Viet Hung thanked the British Embassy for its support, coordination and assistance in preparations for the visit. The Minister said he wanted to meet with the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Government’s Special Envoy for Nature and Climate to discuss priority areas for cooperation. He also hopes to promote cooperation with the University of Oxford in science and technology, as well as capacity building in strategic technology fields.
The Minister expected the two sides to finalize and sign MoU on cooperation in agriculture and the environment during the visit, creating a foundation for further strengthening Viet Nam – UK cooperation in the years ahead.
Khuong Trung – Translated by Kieu Chi
