Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc held phone talks with President of the European Commission Ursula vonder Leyen on July 29 to discuss the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
The two sides agreed that along with with the EU-VietnamComprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement (PCA), theFramework Participation Agreement (FPA) in crisis management activities of theEU, and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on the EU ForestLaw Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), the signing and implementationof the EVFTA and EVIPA has turned Vietnam into a leading partner of the EU inthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and one of the Asian-Pacificcountries having extensive and intensive relations with the EU in terms ofpolitics, economy, trade, development cooperation, environment, sustainableenergy, and defence-security.
They pledged to continue working closely together to implementeffectively the EVFTA as well as fully tap its win-win benefits, contributingto prompting trade liberalisation, cooperation and connectivity in the Asian-Pacific region, and recovering the regional andglobal economic growth that is profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Phuc described the EVFTA as a golden opportunity for the two sides to intensifycollaboration and mutual development.
To optimise the opportunities, Vietnam suggested the EC join hands to enhance the implementation capacity and encourage EU member countries tosoon ratify the EVIPA and remove the yellow car for Vietnameseaquatic products.
The EC President said the EU attaches great importance tocooperation with Vietnamin all aspects. She spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts in performing therole of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United NationsSecurity Council (UNSC).
She spoke of the EU’s vision about multilateral cooperation towardssustainable development, promoting ruled-based peace and security in the regionand the world, and the EU’s desire for joining more actively ASEAN-ledmechanisms, looking forward to expanding the ASEAN-EU cooperative relations.
The official suggested the two sides continuously share information andexperience in COVID-19 response, support their citizens as well as facilitate and gradually resume travels between Vietnam and the EU.
She also expressed her concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea.
The two sides emphasised the importance of keeping peace, securityand respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS), and ensuring freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
PM Phuc invited the EU official to visit Vietnam, and the invitation was accepted./.
