Minutes from the Second Joint Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development under UKVFTA

This draft blog post presents a summary of the minutes from the second Joint Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development under the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the United Kingdom (UKVFTA). Convened to reinforce shared commitments to open and fair trade, sustainable development, and inclusive growth, the meeting yielded a range of discussion points, decisions, and concrete next steps. The outline below reflects the key elements typically recorded in such minutes and is suitable for stakeholder review and feedback pending formal publication.

Attendance and opening remarks
– Official delegations from the United Kingdom and Vietnam convened the forum, together with representatives from relevant line ministries, industry associations, trade bodies, and civil society organisations.
– The forum was chaired by senior officials from both sides, who opened proceedings by reaffirming a mutual commitment to sustainable and transparent trade practices under the UKVFTA framework.
– Key opening messages emphasised the importance of climate resilience, responsible business conduct, and the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in realising broader developmental goals.

Agenda overview
– The primary agenda covered:
– Trade facilitation measures and digital trade;
– Sustainable development and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards;
– capacity-building and technical assistance to support implementation;
– rules of origin, transparency, and dispute prevention mechanisms;
– SME access to markets and inclusive growth strategies.
– The forum also allocated time for reviewing progress since the first Joint Forum and for identifying concrete cooperation projects and monitoring indicators.

Key discussions and themes
– Trade facilitation and digital trade:
– Promoting streamlined customs procedures, interoperability of digital systems, and paperless trade where feasible.
– Encouraging the adoption of modern trade practices to reduce costs and time-to-market for exporters, especially SMEs.
– Sustainable development and standards:
– Harmonisation of environmental and labour standards where appropriate, with recognition of sovereign policy space.
– Emphasis on responsible supply chains, due diligence, and collaboration with industry to raise standards across key sectors.
– Capacity-building and technical assistance:
– Identified needs for knowledge transfer, regulatory impact assessments, and targeted training to support compliance with UKVFTA commitments.
– Proposals for joint capacity-building initiatives in areas such as environmental management, circular economy practices, and sustainable procurement.
– Sectoral cooperation and inclusive growth:
– Prioritisation of high-potential sectors for bilateral cooperation, including green technologies, agrifood supply chains, and manufactured goods.
– Commitment to engage with SMEs through targeted programmes, access to finance, and export-readiness support.
– Monitoring, reporting, and transparency:
– Agreement on developing a more robust joint monitoring framework to track progress against sustainability indicators and trade facilitation milestones.
– Plans for shared reporting templates and regular data exchanges to enhance transparency and accountability.

Decisions and commitments
– Establishment of a Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development to oversee implementation, monitor indicators, and coordinate technical programmes.
– Agreement to advance pilot projects that demonstrate practical outcomes in sustainable procurement, green supply chains, and capacity-building for SMEs.
– Commitment to maintain an open data approach where feasible, with regular publication of progress summaries and annual reviews.
– Confirmation of a schedule for the next forum, with a timeline that supports timely updates and ongoing engagement.

Actions and next steps
– The secretariat will circulate a draft work plan within 30 days, identifying priority projects, responsible bodies, and expected timelines.
– The Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development will convene its first meeting within the next quarter to approve the work programme and key indicators.
– The next Joint Forum will establish progress reports on pilot projects and share best practices across sectors, with a view to expanding successful initiatives.
– Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on this draft in the coming weeks to refine the final minutes and ensure alignment with national policies and bilateral objectives.

Annexes (to be circulated with the final minutes)
– List of participants and organisations represented.
– Agenda and substantive documents discussed during the forum.
– Contact points for follow-up and collaboration opportunities.

Closing notes
– This draft blog post captures the spirit and content of the discussions at the second Joint Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development under UKVFTA. While it outlines confirmed decisions and forward-looking actions, final minutes may be subject to editorial refinement and formal approval by the respective secretariats.
– Readers with an interest in bilateral trade and sustainable development are invited to comment on this draft or reach out to relevant national focal points for further information or collaboration opportunities.

If you represent a business, NGO, or civil society group with insights or questions about the forum’s outcomes, you may wish to prepare feedback that highlights practical implications, potential partners, and suggested indicators for monitoring progress.

January 23, 2026 at 01:00PM
透明度数据：英越自贸协定贸易与可持续发展联合论坛——会议纪要，2025年6月27日
越南与英国自由贸易协定（UKVFTA）下第二次贸易与可持续发展联合论坛会议纪要。

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