Chairman An expressed his satisfaction at his first visit to the UK as well as the fine development of the two countries' relations. He briefed the British Deputy PM on Vietnam's achievements in 2004 and socio-economic tasks for 2005. The Chairman thanked the British government and people for their increasing development assistance for Vietnam. He highly valued the effectiveness of projects funded by UK's development assistance, particularly those in poverty reduction, education and healthcare, in Vietnam.  

Chairman An praised the UK's initiative to provide direct financial support for the Vietnamese government's poverty reduction programme. 

Chairman An also thanked the British government for their scholarships to Vietnamese students. He said the exchange of students would be a good method to promote exchanges and harmonisation between the different cultures.

Deputy PM Prescott welcomed Chairman An to his country, and recalled his good impression of Vietnam from his two visits, particularly the October 2004 visit to attend ASEM 5, which, he said, helped him better understand and believe in the effectiveness of Vietnam's renovation process. 

The Deputy PM praised Vietnam's efforts in economic reform. He affirmed that the British government support the development of Vietnam-UK co-operation in different areas. The Deputy PM said he was pleased at the fine relationship between the Vietnamese and British parliaments, and expressed his hope that the relationship would further develop to contribute to promoting the two governments' co-operation and the two peoples' friendship and mutual understanding.

The same day, the Vietnamese NA leader attended a meeting of more than 100 Vietnamese and British entrepreneurs from different economic sectors.

Also on March 22, An met with British officials and scholars at the Asia House Entrepreneurs Club, when he detailed the National Assembly's role in Vietnam's international integration process.  An affirmed that Vietnam's policy is to actively integrate into regional and international economies in the spirit of mobilising all internal strength, increasing the efficiency of international co-operation efficiency, ensuring independence and the socialist orientation, protecting national interests and the environment, and maintaining national security and cultural identity.

The Vietnamese legislative body has been renewing its operation, including the law making process, An said. He added that the NA, its committees and relevant State agencies have built and completed a system of legal documents for the country's economic integration process.

Earlier, on March 21, Chairman An visited Cardiff city where he was welcomed by Governor R. Morgan and Speaker of the Wales Parliament L. D. E. Thomas. An also called on the Graig Shipping company and Oxford University.

On March 20, Chairman An and his entourage laid a wreath at the New Zealand House in London where the late President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in 1913 and 1915.

The same day, he received Secretary General of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Association Len Aldis and was feted by Vice-Chairman of the British Council Gareth Thomas in London./.