PM Phạm Minh Chính held talks with Rolls-Royce Group representatives in Edinburgh. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

EDINBURGH — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted leaders of ten foreign corporations and leading British universities in Edinburgh, Scotland, on October 31 (local time), as part of his visit to the UK for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

During the meetings, Chính maintained that despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam had been highly regarded by the international community for its efforts to fulfil the dual goal of containing the outbreak and boosting economic growth, and for remaining a safe and attractive FDI destination.

Sharing concerns of foreign investors in Việt Nam over the COVID-19 fallout, the PM said the Vietnamese Government and public agencies would continue to create favourable conditions for them to grow successful and sustainable business in the long term in the spirit of “harmonising benefits and sharing risks.”

Meeting Professor Mohammed Abdel, of the UK’s University of Liverpool and principal of Switzerland’s Hume Institute for Postgraduate Studies, the Vietnamese leader asked the professor and University of Liverpool to continue coordinating with Việt Nam in training human resources and developing strategies, policies and mechanisms in response to climate change in the Mekong Delta particularly, environment protection, and emerging epidemics.

Agreeing with Chính’s suggestion, Abdel said his university wanted to bolster specific cooperation projects with Việt Nam to produce practical results.

Meeting leaders of Oxford University, the PM said he supported the university's cooperation to help the pharmaceutical industry and improve the capacity of the health system in Việt Nam.

Talking to leaders of Rolls-Royce Group, Chính welcomed cooperation activities with Vietnamese businesses, especially with airlines; proposed the involved parties pay attention to the field of aerospace.

Meeting President of Pacific Land Group Patrick McKillen, Chính spoke highly of the group's projects in Việt Nam, especially Hanoi Biotech Park, which would help the country in coping with impacts of climate change and emerging epidemics.

McKillen voiced his hopes to be able to run a long-term and stable business in Việt Nam and revealed his intention to build a major hub for biotechnology studies in the country.

Chính also had meetings with business leaders from large energy companies, including Enterprize Energy, Siemens, and JAKS Malaysia, during which he welcomed these companies to expand operation in Việt Nam and called for more private investment in developing and providing hi-tech solutions for energy projects in the country.

All the guests expressed their delight at Việt Nam’s socio-economic development and COVID-19 response, saying they hope the Government of Việt Nam would maintain and reinforce investment attraction incentives and provide all possible favourable conditions for them. — VNS