NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and the EP delegation (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnam treasures and wishes to boostits relationship with the European Union (EU) - a leading important partner in Vietnam's foreign policy, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hassaid.
During his reception in Hanoi on June 19 for the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Southeast Asia andASEAN (DASE) led by its Chairman Daniel Caspary, Chairman Hue spoke highly of positiveand significant outcomes in the Vietnam-EU relationship across the pillars ofpolitics, diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, agro-forestry-fisheries,national defence-security, development cooperation and human rights dialogue.
Vietnamalways supports the strengthening of ASEAN-EU strategic partnership. Vietnam,including its National Assembly, is ready to play an active role in thisprocess, he said.
Caspary, for hispart, briefed the host about the delegation’s agenda with relevant Vietnameseagencies, including a mechanism on cooperationin the implementation of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and incertain areas within ASEAN, as the EU-ASEAN relationship has been upgraded to astrategic partnership.
Stressingthat both sides have been experiencing extremely challenging times due toCOVID-19 and global conflicts, Caspary believed that in such context, the EU-Vietnamties will play an increasingly important role. He expressed his expectations that two-waytrade will continue to increase in the future, and parliamentary cooperationplays a crucial role in the overall cooperative relationship between the EU andVietnam.
DASE members said mutual visits and delegations exchanges will contribute to raising mutualunderstanding, trust and closer ties, bringing prosperity to the people on bothsides. The consistent rise in bilateral trade volume over time demonstratesthe importance of the EVFTA.
Theyexpressed their interest in the fisheries sector, policies promoting thedevelopment of Vietnam's regions while ensuring the quality of growth, solutionsand orientations to building eco-friendly energy programmes.
Accordingto Chairman Hue, Vietnam is investing significant resources intothree national target programmes on sustainable poverty reduction, new ruraldevelopment, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainousareas. Among these, the Vietnamese National Assembly is conducting the highest-level supervisionon the implementation of the NA’s Resolutions on the National Target Programmeson new rural development and sustainable poverty reduction for 2021-2025, andsocio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030period.
At the meeting (Photo: VNA)
On regional andglobal issues of shared concern, Hue suggested thatthe EU continue playing an active role and contribute with concrete actions toensure the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea. Healso urged for enhanced cooperation between the EU and ASEAN on this matter.
The host wished that both sides would continueworking closely together, particularly sharing parliamentary experience,improving legal frameworks and addressing global challenges, and at important multilateraland regional parliamentary forums.
Caspary said the EU is making efforts to seek approval from theremaining countries' parliaments for the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement (EVIPA).
Hehoped that the EU’s "Global Gateway" initiative will contribute to astrong connection between the EU and ASEAN, as well as between the people ofboth blocs. The Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meeting, scheduledto take place in Europe this year, will provide an opportunity for both sidesto engage in discussions and exchanges to further boost collaboration.
On the occasion, Hueconveyed his invitation to a delegation ofyoung EP members to the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians whichis to be jointly organised by Vietnam and the Inter-Parliamentary Union this September./.
