Vietnam-EU agreements lay foundation for all-around partnership

The signing ceremony of an MoU between Vietnam's Foreign Ministry and Eurocharm in Hanoi. (Source: VNA)

Recent landmark agreements have laid a solid foundation for a political and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), and the two sides can look forward to a very fruitful cooperation in the coming years.

The new Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, Ambassador Bruno Angelet made the remarks at a press briefing in Hanoi on October 28.

The year 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam-EU diplomatic ties, the new ambassador said, adding that the two sides have made significant progress during the quarter-century.

Through their bilateral and common programmes, the EU member states and institutions have established a dense network of relationships based on common trust and understanding. The bilateral partnership has evolved from humanitarian aid to development and economic, trade and investment cooperation, he stated.

With the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (FTA), Vietnam and the EU are ready to move beyond development and trade collaboration and establish a more political and all-around partnership, Angelet stressed.

He also expressed his belief that the EU would be Vietnam’s best partner for the future, as Vietnam is becoming one of the most dynamic and pro-European countries in the region.

The EU delegation head said as a leading power house in science and innovation and a pioneer in the fight against climate change and the transition towards a smart and green economy, Europe is able to support Vietnam in multiple fields, including governance models and service delivery in infrastructure; education; justice and rule of law, including human rights; healthcare; social security and sustainable energy, he said.

Vietnam, on the other hand, can offer Europe a rapidly growing market with young labour force, and the country is in a strong position to become a competitive hub within ASEAN, he said.

The Vietnam-EU FTA can bring a huge wave of foreign investment to Vietnam in the future, Bruno Angelet told reporters, noting that negotiations on the trade deal concluded in August and is scheduled to be signed this December.

It will take about two more years for ratification, he added.

According to the ambassador, the EU welcomes around 300,000 Vietnamese visitors and 40,000-50,000 Vietnamese students every year. He hoped that the number would continue increasing over the next few years.

The EU official vowed to do his best to achieve the goals Vietnam and the EU have set during his term.

Ambassador Angelet, a Belgian national, has years of working experience in Vietnam. He previously served as the Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam from 2011-2015 and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Belgium in Hanoi from 1994-1998, and also has intensive experience with European affairs.-VNA