At the meeting, President Tajani said the EP welcomes Vietnamese National Assembly delegations to visit and work with the EP agencies, stressing that the visit would contribute to boosting relations between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam in general and the Vietnamese NA and EP in particular.
The host said that he felt proud as the EU is a major partner of Vietnam, suggesting that the two sides should expand trade cooperation although two-way trade has seen positive outcomes over the past time.
According to him, the EU has provided some EUR400 million of aid for Vietnam to promote its socio-economic development, and that has demonstrated the EU’s determination and effort to support Vietnam.
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NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and President of the European Parliament (EP) Antonio Tajani |
He highly valued Vietnam’s effort to settle differences within ASEAN member countries.
He affirmed that he had done his best to accelerate the signing and ratification of an EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) as they would certainly benefit both sides. He regretted that the two deals had not yet been approved during his term of office as the EP President.
For her part, Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Ngan thanked the EP leader for his contributions to promoting the partnership between Vietnam and the EU, as well as between the Vietnamese NA and the EP.
She expressed her belief that Mr. Tajani would continue playing a key role in the promotion of ties between the EU and Vietnam in the future.
She also briefed the host on the socio-economic situation in Vietnam, saying that Vietnam has signed and implemented 12 free trade agreements and is negotiating for four other deals.
The EU is currently the fourth largest trade partner, second biggest export market, and fifth largest investor of Vietnam, she noted.
The Vietnamese NA leader suggested, in order to further promote economic, trade, and investment partnerships, the two sides have concluded negotiations and processing for the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).
Regarding the EVFTA and IPA, NA Chairwoman Ngan said they will bring multi-faceted benefits to both Vietnam and the EU, stressing that the early signing and ratification of the EVFTA will open up many opportunities and bring about various benefits to both two signatories.
She hoped that EP President Antonio Tajani would continue his support for the two deals so that they will become the EP's agenda at the beginning of the new tenure.
She affirmed that Vietnam always provides best conditions for foreign enterprises, including those from the EU, to invest and do business in the country.
She affirms that Vietnam always respects international trade commitments and creates equal opportunities for both domestic and foreign investors, adding that Vietnam is ready to discuss issues of mutual concern with the EU to accelerate the signing and ratification of the EVFTA and the IPA, and that Vietnam is willing to exchange information with and welcome EP parliamentarian groups, as well as organize dialogues with them to discuss issues of mutual concern in the spirit of cooperation and construction, thus helping the EP better understand the situation in Vietnam.
NA Chairwoman Ngan and EP President Tajani both expressed their delight at the sound relations between the Vietnamese NA and the EP, with increased exchange of delegations at all levels and sharing of experience in law building and friendship.
The guest hailed the active operation of the two sides’ friendship parliamentarians’ groups, which helps promote the cooperative relations between Vietnamese NA and EP in particular, and between Vietnam and the EU in general.
The Vietnamese top legislator asked the two friendship parliamentarians’ groups to continue cooperating by sharing information and experience in the field.
EP President Tajani thanked Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan for her open and constructive ideas, affirming that the talks hold significant meaning, illustrating Vietnam’s determination to cooperate with the EU, especially as more European investors are seeking cooperation opportunities in Vietnam.
He affirmed to do his utmost so that the EVFTA and IPA will become top priorities on the agenda of the EP of next term.
Reported by Chien Thang from Brussels, Belgium
Translated by Thu Nguyen