National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Chair of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hailed theEuropean Union as a top important partner in Vietnam’s foreign policy duringa reception in Hanoi on February 23 for Chair of the European Parliament (EP)’sCommittee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister.
ChairmanHue said Vietnam always supports the strengthening of ASEAN-EU strategicpartnership and stays ready to play an active role in the process.
Vietnamis also willing to work with the EP to promote the implementationof the initiative on establishing the EU-ASEAN Parliamentary Council, which is seenas a platform to help advance the EU-ASEAN Free TradeAgreement, he said.
McAllister, for his part, said the EP wants to further reinforce ties with ASEANparliaments in general, which is also the reason for its establishment of aliaison office in Indonesia.
Apartfrom bilateral cooperation in energy, the environment, national defence-security, the EP is willing to support Vietnam based on its proposals to lift bilateral tiesto a greater height.
The Vietnamese legislative leader proposed that McAllister, with his position as Chair of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, continue to support thedevelopment of EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN relations, raise the EP’s role inleveraging the advantages of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to advance trade ties and maintain EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN supply chains, andfacilitate the exchange of delegations at the committee level between EP and the Vietnameselegislature.
He also suggested the EP push the approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by remaining EU member states, considering it afoundation to launch the EU's "Global Gateway" initiative in theregion.
Vietnam is ready to support andboost cooperation between the EU/EP and ASEAN/ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), as well as jointly carry out the ASEAN-EUPlan of Action for 2023-2027 to help the EU connect with the ASEAN market and stepup negotiations on the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, he said.
Hue also called on the EU to continue to promote and contribute toensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea for peace,stability and development in the region and the world, strengthen cooperationwithin the framework of the Mekong sub-region, assist Vietnam in capital,technology and human resources for green economic development, digitaltransformation, and just energy transition.
He hoped that the EU will help Vietnam realise the PoliticalDeclaration on Establishing Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) withinternational partners to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Asking the EU to remove its yellow card warning on Vietnam, Hue affirmed that the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on fighting illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing will to ensure interests of fishermen forsustainable development.
He also sought the EU’s assistance for Vietnam in improvingfishing management capacity, modernising fishing sector in terms of aquacultureprocess, technique, preservation, logistics and retail, and building a closed-endvalue chain in the sector.
Via the guest, Hue conveyedhis invitation to EP President Roberta Metsola to visit Vietnam at a convenienttime this year./.
