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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and visiting E.C. Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis |
The E.U. is Vietnam’s fourth largest trade partner, while Vietnam is its biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The E.U. is also the sixth largest investor in Vietnam.
Chinh appreciated the E.U.’s consideration of climate change adaptation one of the three focuses of cooperation with Vietnam for the 2021 - 2027 period, and thanked the E.U. for its 210 million EUR (222.55 million USD) in non-refundable aid to Vietnam in the 2021 - 2024 period.
He suggested the E.U. accelerate the implementation of its free trade agreement with Vietnam (EVFTA), and create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter the market, especially agricultural and aquatic products, striving to bring two-way trade to 100 billion USD.
Vietnam is committed to further facilitating the operations of E.U. enterprises, he said, adding that E.U. firms should be encouraged to invest in the country in such areas as digital transformation, energy transformation, sustainable development, climate change response, high technology, and logistics infrastructure in which they have strengths.
The PM called on Dombrovskis, who is also the E.U.'s Trade Commissioner, to urge remaining E.U. member countries to soon ratify the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the E.C. to soon remove its “yellow card” against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Vietnam.
For his part, Dombrovskis highly valued Vietnam’s development and cooperation potential, saying the Vietnam - E.U. relations are thriving, especially after the signing of the EVFTA.
Vietnam and the E.U. share the goal of sustainable development, particularly in green economy and circular economy, he said, reiterating the Southeast Asian nation’s commitments to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and participating in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
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An overview of the reception |
The E.U. and its member countries view Vietnam as a leading important partner in the region and the world, and wish to promote relations with it across spheres as mentioned by the PM, he emphasized.
Praising Vietnam's contributions as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. Human Rights Council and other international organizations, Dombrovski noted his hope that Vietnam will play a more active role in global affairs, for peace, stability, cooperation and development.
Chinh asked the E.U. to cooperate and provide consultation for Vietnam in green economy, circular economy and climate change response, and step up financial support for the country within the JETP.
The PM said he hopes that the E.U. will strengthen cooperation within the framework of ASEAN and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), pledging that Vietnam stands ready to work as a bridge between the E.U. and other ASEAN countries to seize opportunities and resolve common challenges, especially those regarding environment and climate change, green transition, digital transformation, infrastructure connection, and capacity building for the health system.
The two sides shared ASEAN’s views on ensuring safety, security, and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea (South China Sea), the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and pushing ahead with the negotiations and building of an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Source: VNA