UK to stop bilateral aid program for Vietnam since 2016

The United Kingdom (UK) will stop aid program for Vietnam from March 2016, according to a press release out here on Friday.

The cease of the aid program is to recognize Vietnam's progress in fulfilling the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, said the press release posted on the website of the Vietnamese foreign ministry.

Other assistance sources of the UK through the European Union and other multilateral mechanisms including World Bank and United Nations will still be continued, said the press release of the fourth strategic dialogue between Vietnam and the UK.

According to statistics by the World Bank, a country with gross national income (GNI) per capita ranging between 1,000 U.S. dollars and 12,000 U.S. dollars is considered a middle income country.

In 2011, Vietnam posted a GNI per capita of 1,260 U.S. dollars, becoming a middle income country. In late 2013, Sweden announced to stop Official Development Assistance for Vietnam.

During the Vietnam-UK dialogue, held in Hanoi, the two sides focused on discussions of issues of international economic integration, defense, security and global developments.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitments to soon conclude negotiations of a Free Trade Agreement between them.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in areas of education, civil nuclear energy, anti-corruption and climate change, among others.

Both sides discussed the issue of human rights and urged the design of a Vietnam-UK 2015 Action Plan.

Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic ties in 1973. Endi