Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam, as the first ASEAN member state to establish a Strategic Partnership with the European Union (EU), will continue making every effort to contribute to the development of ASEAN-EU relations in the coming years, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has said.
Receiving EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam in Hanoi on July 14, Deputy FM Giang, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, spoke highly of the positive progress in the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, noting that the EU has become one of ASEAN's most reliable partners and has provided substantial support for the ASEAN Community-building process.
Against the backdrop of rapid and complex regional and global developments, Giang said ASEAN and the EU, as the world's two most successful regional organisations, should further strengthen coordination and cooperation, particularly in the fields of economy and trade. He highlighted the need to prioritise digital economy, energy security, food security, education and training, maritime cooperation and security, while upholding multilateralism and international law.
For his part, Seam reaffirmed the EU's strong commitment to its relationship with ASEAN, agreeing that both sides should build on existing achievements, enhance political dialogue, and expand cooperation in priority areas such as the digital economy and trade, energy transition, sustainable development, and education and training.
As ASEAN and the EU prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their partnership next year, the ambassador expressed his hope that both sides would step up efforts to elevate cooperation further for their mutual development as well as for peace and stability in the region and the world.
Highlighting Vietnam's unique position as ASEAN's country coordinator for ASEAN-EU economic relations, one of only three ASEAN members to have signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU, and one of two ASEAN countries participating in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Seam expressed his hope that Vietnam would continue to play an active role in advancing ASEAN-EU ties.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern./.
