Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo. (Photo: VNA) In an article titled ‘Strengthening relationships with ASEANcountries: an EU strategic priority’, the EU Today wrote that among ASEAN countries,Vietnam would be a key priority, promoting economic and trade relations betweenASEAN and the EU.
It quoted Senator Andries Gryffroy, Permanent Vice Presidentof the Belgian Senate, as saying Vietnam has an important geostrategic positionin the Indo-Pacific.
“Vietnam's economy is currently an important link in thesupply chain and economic value of the ASEAN with many advantages such as: astable macro environment, a dynamic economy, an increasingly open consumermarket, a stable political background, consistent in economic development andforeign investment policy,” said Gryffroy.
According to data from the European Institute for AsianStudies (EIAS), the EU is Vietnam's leading trading partner and both the thirdlargest export market and the fifth largest import market of Vietnam. The totalbilateral import-export turnover between Vietnam and the EU reached 57.11billion EUR in the first nine months of 2022, up 10.3% over the same period in2021. The EU is currently the 5th largest foreign investor in Vietnam with atotal registered capital of 27.6 billion USD (accumulated until August 2022).
The article also cited opinion from the Flanders Chamber ofCommerce and Investment, which assessed that in addition to the role of abridge between the two blocs' markets, the Vietnamese market has a youngpopulation and is an attractive destination for leading European investors,especially in sectors such as clean technology, food, beverage and logistics.
The Brussels Times wrote in its December 12 article, titled ‘Vietnam– A sustained development partner and destination of foreign investment for EUin Southeast Asia’, that EU regional partners, such as Vietnam have greatpotential to promote stronger and more effective cooperative relations for thebenefit of their respective regions and citizens.
The relationship between Vietnam and the EU is currentlyconsidered to be at its prime in history, it wrote. Currently, Vietnam and theEU have close ties with many cooperative frameworks, such as the EU – VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect on August 1, 2020.
The Belgian press stated that the official visit to the country by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from December 13-15 willcertainly be a new milestone and an impetus for the promotion of bilateralrelations to new heights.
They said within the framework of the EU-ASEAN CommemorativeSummit, the Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wouldcommit to Vietnam's orientation on renewable energy development, green andsustainable growth, digital transformation, and innovation. These commitmentshad been announced by the PM at the 26th United Nations Climate ChangeConference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow last year and are in linewith Belgium's priorities as well as the EU Agenda.
The newspapers concluded that PM Chinh's visit is anopportunity for Belgium and EU countries to further promote cooperation invarious fields, for the benefit of the people and for the common interests ofmankind./.
VNA
