Nguyen Van Binh, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, addresses the Europa Connectivity Forum in Brussels, Belgium, on September 27 (Photo: VNA) Brussels (VNA) –Vietnam supports the European Union (EU)’s efforts to strengthen Europe-Asia connectivity,Nguyen Van Binh, Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’sEconomic Commission, said at the Europa Connectivity Forum in Brussels, Belgium,on September 27.
Binh said that the Europe-Asian connectivitywill bring about another choice for Asian countries, adding that it must besustainable and comprehensive on the foundation of international law.
At the forum, Bin, who is alsoSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, introducedVietnam’s achievements after more than 30 years of reform, especially ininternational economic integration.
As a non-permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 term and Chair of ASEAN in2020, Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge connecting the European Union (EU)and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as theAsia-Pacific region as a whole, thus optimising potential of both sides and forpeace, stability and prosperity of the two continents and the world, he said.
The Vietnamese Partyofficialstressedthat in order to successfully connect Europe and Asia, it issignificant to ensure the unity in diversity of culture, history andinstitution.
In the context that unilateralactivities are eroding trust, escalating tensions,and violating sovereignty andsovereignty rights of other countries, the two continents should increasedialogue, mutual trust and solidarity in the principles of settling disputesthrough peaceful measures without using or threatening to use force, andstrictly abiding by international law, Binh said.
The EuropaConnectivity Forum –an innovative multi-stakeholder international conference aimed at fosteringdialogue and strengthening ties between governments, financial institutions,and private sector actors in Europe and beyond, drew more than 1,400 delegates,including the Prime Ministers of Japan, Finland and Croatia.
Openingthe event, EC President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Europe-Asia connectivityis a necessary factor when countries in the world are becoming dependent oneach other, along with common challenges and the development of science andtechnology.
Heheld that the connectivity should be sustainable in environment, finance andsociety basing on respect for a multilateral international order in line withinternational law, and must be strengthened in various fields, including thespeeding up of new generation trade agreement that the EU has signed withJapan, Singapore and Vietnam.
Onthe sidelines of the forum, Binh had a meeting with President of the AsianDevelopment Bank (ADB) Takehico Nakao, during which he lauded the bank’s andthe President’s contributions to Vietnam’s economic development and reformprocess, while proposing that the bank continue to providing soft loans forVietnamese firms.
Nakaopraised economic achievement of Vietnam over the years, especially its effortsin balancing economic growth and social issues, as well as the effectiveness ofpartnership between the ADB and Vietnam. He pledged that the ADB will continueto provide loans with proper interest rates for Vietnam in the coming time.
Onthe occasion, Binh also met German Minister of Economy and Energy PeterAltmaier. The two officials reaffirmed the commitments to promoting partnershipbetween the two nations as well as between the EU and Vietnam, including the accelerationof the ratification and implementation the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement andInvestment Protection Agreement./.
VNA
