Vietnam-UK Hold First Migration Dialogue to Prevent Human Trafficking
16/8/2022| 15:43Under the chair of UK Home Office Permanent Under-Secretary Matthew Rycroft and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Vietnam and UK held a migration dialogue in Hanoi, discussing new policies on preventing and combating human trafficking.
On August 15, Vietnam and the United Kingdom held the inaugural migration dialogue in Hanoi, the first of its kind, under the chair of UK Home Office Permanent Under-Secretary Matthew Rycroft and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang. The dialogue is part of Permanent Under-Secretary Rycroft’s two-day visit to Vietnam.
Among topics of discussion between the two sides were communication on immigration and safe migration, migrant returns, the issue of fraudulent documents, updated policies on immigration as well as addressing human trafficking.
Preventing and combating transnational human trafficking
In the field of transnational security, leaders of the two sides regularly hold talks and exchange high-level delegations to share experiences and strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes, including crimes against immigration, illegal migration and human trafficking, making an important contribution to promoting the cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the UK in general and the relationship between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the British Ministry of Home Affairs in particular.
At the dialogue session, the two sides exchanged, discussed and agreed on communication issues on immigration and safe and legal migration; repatriation related issues; new policies on entry and exit; preventing and combating human trafficking…
At the same time, they propose solutions to prevent illegal immigration and migration; encourage safe and legal entry and exit through communication activities, training to improve immigration capacity and information exchange; continue to maintain and improve the effectiveness of close cooperation in repatriation work.
In 2021, the UK and Vietnam have a strong relationship on migration issues – from jointly investigating the lorry tragedy in Essex to securing three successful charter return flights admist the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rycroft underlined the UK’s continued interest in strengthening this collaboration with Vietnam, together addressing challenges and bringing mutual benefits to both countries.
"Apart from collaborations in trade, education, research, technology innovation and climate change, tackling illegal migration and human trafficking is hugely important and mutually beneficial to both countries. We are committed to working together on ensuring safe and legal routes to the UK as well as protecting victims of human trafficking, and putting an end to this awful crime," he said.
In response, Deputy Minister Quang highly appreciated the close and effective cooperation of the UK authorities and the UK Embassy in Vietnam, which have implemented many cooperation activities to share experiences, support Việt Nam’s immigration authorities, promote cooperation in the field of migration and immigration, and receive citizens back within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two Governments on migration and human trafficking prevention and control.
Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Van Hoi (front row, third from left)and UK Home Office Permanent Under-Secretary Matthew Rycroft (fourth from left) (Photo: UK Embassy in Vietnam)
The Vietnamese official expressed his belief that this Dialogue would open many opportunities for the two sides to promote cooperation on migration and solve difficulties and challenges in the new situation.
