The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 46th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-46) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Stressing the importance of the meeting, which coincided with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the E.U. (1990-2025), Hoan reaffirmed that the E.U. is one of Vietnam’s most important partners.
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The meeting between National Assembly Vice Chairman Le Minh Hoan and Wouter Beke, chair of the European Parliament delegation at AIPA-46, in Kuala Lumpur on September 18 |
He noted bilateral relations have grown dynamically, substantively, and comprehensively across multiple sectors, thanking the E.U. for its initiatives and projects that have contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic progress.
The Vice Chairman also called on the EU to continue supporting Vietnam’s efforts in building a green economy, promote the ratification of the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), soon lift the “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and assist in implementing the bloc’s deforestation regulation.
Hoan also proposed the E.U. to help with the ASEAN Community building process and further align the ASEAN - E.U. action plans with ASEAN’s cooperation strategies.
For his part, Beke emphasized Vietnam’s role as an important partner of the E.U. in the region. He highlighted the effective implementation of the E.U. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), describing it as a model for the E.U.’s negotiations with other partners.
He praised Vietnam’s efforts in responding to climate change, combating deforestation, and advancing towards its net-zero emissions target.
Beke also underlined the E.U.’s wish to expand cooperation beyond economy with ASEAN through initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the E.U.
Both sides agreed to increase exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level visits in this anniversary year. They also pledged to maximize the EVFTA, broaden market access, and enhance cooperation in areas matching the E.U.'s strengths, including green transition, digital transformation, environmental protection, climate change response, science - technology, and innovation.
Source: VNA