Baroness Blackstone, on her first official visit to Vietnam, met Vietnamese Minister for Education and Training Nguyen Minh Hien and Vice Minister for Labour, Invalids and Social Welfare Nguyen Luong Trao. In addition, Baroness Blackstone discussed with her counterparts plans for granting the British Council independent status in Vietnam. The British Council is currently the cultural section of the British Embassy. This programme, which is funded by the British Foreign Office and implemented by the British Council in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, provides high-quality English Language training to high ranking officials from the Vietnamese Government. Over 600 officials have been trained since 1994, including Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
Education is a key sector for Britain in Vietnam.
Each year more Vietnamese students are studying in British schools, colleges and universities. In 2001 the two organisations hope to launch the Primary Teacher Development Programme and a programme for Education for Disadvantaged Children. The eleven companies represented on the mission include suppliers to the agro-processing, foundry and engineering sectors, as well as education and training organisations. There is considerable scope for trade and investment, and we consider Vietnam to be an important partner in the global economy. This visit of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry is supported by Trade Partners UK, the UK government's trade promotion arm.