Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen QuocDung has made a working visit to the EU from March 4-10, aiming to boostVietnam – EU ties via lobbying for the early signing and ratification of theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
During the visit, Dung held working sessions with officialsfrom the EU Parliament, the European External Action Service, the EuropeanCommission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development,the EC Directorate-General for Trade, Germany’s Foreign Ministry, the EuropeanChamber of Commerce and Industry and the European Employers’ Organisations.
At working sessions with EU bodies, the Vietnamese and EUsides focused their discussion on the enhancement of political, trade-financial,and investment engagements.
Deputy Minister Dung said Vietnam wants to deepen ties withthe EU through the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam FrameworkAgreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA).
He urged the acceleration of legal work for the early signingand ratification of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and called onthe EU to recognise Vietnam’s full market economy status at the time of theEVFTA signing.
The diplomat asked the EU to back Mekong sub-region cooperationand consider providing financial assistance for a cooperation project between Vietnam’sBen Tre Province and Tulcea of Romania, making it an exemplary project in theframework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Representatives from the EC Directorate-Generals for tradeand for international cooperation and development, and the European ExternalAction Service lauded the robust growth of Vietnam-EU ties.
They agreed to work closely with Vietnam in implementing thePCA, firstly by speeding up the organisation of the first meeting of theVietnam-EU joint committee.
The EU will collaborate with Vietnam in accelerating theEVFTA signing and ratification towards its enforcement in 2018, they noted,adding that the EU is willing to provide technical support to help Vietnam makegood use of opportunities brought about by the agreement.
The EU side said adjustments are being made to anti-dumpingand trade subsidy regulations to ensure equal treatment among EU tradepartners, including Vietnam, in relevant law suits.
The sides shared concern about global climate changechallenges and spent much time to discuss sustainable growth. They agreed towork together in effectively carrying out the Paris Agreement on climate changeadaptation, and developing renewable energy and eco-tourism.
As part of the visit, the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Ministermet with members of the European Parliament's Committees on International Tradeand Foreign Affairs.
The MPs praised Vietnam’s efforts in judicial and legalreform, socio-economic development and international integration, and pledgedto actively consider Vietnam’s proposals related to the EVFTA.
The deputy foreign minister and his entourage also met EUscholars and representatives of business associations, who expressed theirbelief in the EVFTA prospects and promised to work to accelerate the pact’ssigning.
In Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Dung witnessed thesigning of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2017-2019 betweenthe Vietnamese foreign ministry’s Department of Multilateral EconomicCooperation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The deputy minister had meetings with officials from theGerman Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which he asked the German side to backVietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in2020-2021 tenure.-VNA
During the visit, Dung held working sessions with officialsfrom the EU Parliament, the European External Action Service, the EuropeanCommission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development,the EC Directorate-General for Trade, Germany’s Foreign Ministry, the EuropeanChamber of Commerce and Industry and the European Employers’ Organisations.
At working sessions with EU bodies, the Vietnamese and EUsides focused their discussion on the enhancement of political, trade-financial,and investment engagements.
Deputy Minister Dung said Vietnam wants to deepen ties withthe EU through the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam FrameworkAgreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA).
He urged the acceleration of legal work for the early signingand ratification of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and called onthe EU to recognise Vietnam’s full market economy status at the time of theEVFTA signing.
The diplomat asked the EU to back Mekong sub-region cooperationand consider providing financial assistance for a cooperation project between Vietnam’sBen Tre Province and Tulcea of Romania, making it an exemplary project in theframework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Representatives from the EC Directorate-Generals for tradeand for international cooperation and development, and the European ExternalAction Service lauded the robust growth of Vietnam-EU ties.
They agreed to work closely with Vietnam in implementing thePCA, firstly by speeding up the organisation of the first meeting of theVietnam-EU joint committee.
The EU will collaborate with Vietnam in accelerating theEVFTA signing and ratification towards its enforcement in 2018, they noted,adding that the EU is willing to provide technical support to help Vietnam makegood use of opportunities brought about by the agreement.
The EU side said adjustments are being made to anti-dumpingand trade subsidy regulations to ensure equal treatment among EU tradepartners, including Vietnam, in relevant law suits.
The sides shared concern about global climate changechallenges and spent much time to discuss sustainable growth. They agreed towork together in effectively carrying out the Paris Agreement on climate changeadaptation, and developing renewable energy and eco-tourism.
As part of the visit, the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Ministermet with members of the European Parliament's Committees on International Tradeand Foreign Affairs.
The MPs praised Vietnam’s efforts in judicial and legalreform, socio-economic development and international integration, and pledgedto actively consider Vietnam’s proposals related to the EVFTA.
The deputy foreign minister and his entourage also met EUscholars and representatives of business associations, who expressed theirbelief in the EVFTA prospects and promised to work to accelerate the pact’ssigning.
In Germany, Deputy Foreign Minister Dung witnessed thesigning of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2017-2019 betweenthe Vietnamese foreign ministry’s Department of Multilateral EconomicCooperation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
The deputy minister had meetings with officials from theGerman Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during which he asked the German side to backVietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in2020-2021 tenure.-VNA
VNA
