The 4th meeting of the Vietnam - EU Joint Committee in Brussels on October 27 (Published by VNA) At the meeting, the two sides informed each other about their respectivesocio-economic situation and foreign policies, comprehensively evaluatedVietnam - EU cooperation, especially in collaboration frameworks such as the defence- security dialogue, the trade committee of the Vietnam - EU Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA), activities of specialised subcommittees in the Vietnam - EUJoint Committee.
They said that Vietnam - EU relationship has recently seen positivedevelopment, demonstrated through the increased exchange of delegations andhigh-level contacts, and enhanced collaboration in trade - investment, defence- security, education - training, climate change response and developmentcooperation, and effective results of cooperation/dialogue mechanisms.
The EU highly valued Vietnam's impressive achievements in socio-economicdevelopment and international integration.
To strengthen the partnership and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam andthe EU in the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue to intensify theexchange of high-level delegations, coordinate to fully and effectively implementthe EVFTA, and effectively promote existing cooperation/dialogue mechanisms.
They also agreed to further bolster cooperation across potential fields,especially trade - investment, development cooperation, green, digital andcircular economy, modern and sustainable fisheries development and strong shiftingto farming, clean energy transition, innovation, and infrastructure.
Deputy Minister Hang asked the EU to prompt the parliament of 10 of the 27 EUmember countries to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment ProtectionAgreement (EVIPA) to create new opportunities for bilateral trade andinvestment development, bolster cooperation and support Vietnam in developingits marine economy, including early removal of the IUU yellow card for thenation's seafood exports.
She suggested the EU continue to cooperate andsupport Vietnam in realising sustainable development goals (SDG), especiallyfinancial support, technology transfer, human resources training within theframework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between Vietnam andthe International Partners Group, of which the EU is the coordinator.
Representatives of ministries and agencies at the meeting also proposed manyspecific measures to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the fieldsof trade - investment, finance, development cooperation, climate changeresponse, logistics, agriculture, and defence - security.
Deputy Minister Hang affirmed that Vietnam supports the strengthening ofthe ASEAN - EU strategic partnership, with priority given to stepping up trade- investment cooperation, responding to global climate challenges, theenvironment, natural disasters, epidemics, contributing to green andsustainable development, and sub-regional development cooperation, includingthe Mekong sub-region.
Agreeing with the Vietnamese side’s proposals,the EU announced the priorities in its Cooperation Strategy with theIndo-Pacific region and Global Gateway, and expected Vietnam to participate incooperation projects within the framework of these strategies.
The EU highlighted Vietnam as the bloc’s veryimportant partner in the Asia-Pacific region, and affirmed its continued supportto Vietnam's sustainable development, serving as a model for EU cooperativerelationships with other partners around the world.
The EU proposed that the two sides continue to boost cooperation in key areasof relations including politics - diplomacy, trade - investment, defence -security, climate change response, while expanding cooperation in new areassuch as tax, biodiversity conservation, global plastic waste treatment, labourand illegal migration prevention.
Regarding international and regional issues of shared concern, the twosides consented to promote multilateralism and the role of the United Nations.They affirmed that disputes must be resolved by peaceful means on the basis ofrespect for international law and the basic principles of the UN Charter, whileensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the EastSea in line with international law, especially the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
One day earlier, Deputy Minister Hang received Deputy Secretary General of theEEAS Helena Konig./.
VNA
