National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said Vietnam always supports the strengthening of ASEAN - E.U. strategic partnership and stays ready to play an active role in the process.
Vietnam is also willing to work with the E.P. to promote the implementation of the initiative on establishing the E.U. - ASEAN Parliamentary Council, which is seen as a platform to help advance the E.U. - ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, he said.
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National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and Chair of the E.P.’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister |
McAllister, for his part, said the E.P. wants to further reinforce ties with ASEAN parliaments in general, which is also the reason for its establishment of a liaison office in Indonesia.
Apart from bilateral cooperation in energy, the environment, national defense - security, the E.P. is willing to support Vietnam based on its proposals to lift bilateral ties to a greater height.
The Vietnamese legislative leader proposed that McAllister, with his position as Chair of the E.P.’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, continue to support the development of E.U. - Vietnam and E.U. - ASEAN relations, raise the E.P.’s role in leveraging the advantages of the E.U. - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to advance trade ties and maintain E.U. - Vietnam and E.U. - ASEAN supply chains, and facilitate the exchange of delegations at the committee level between E.P. and the Vietnamese legislature.
He also suggested the E.P. push the approval of the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by remaining E.U. member states, considering it a foundation to launch the E.U.'s "Global Gateway" initiative in the region.
Vietnam is ready to support and boost cooperation between the E.U./E.P. and ASEAN/ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), as well as jointly carry out the ASEAN - E.U. Plan of Action for 2023-2027 to help the E.U. connect with the ASEAN market and step up negotiations on the ASEAN - E.U. Free Trade Agreement, he said.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also called on the E.U. to continue to promote and contribute to ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea for peace, stability and development in the region and the world, strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Mekong sub-region, assist Vietnam in capital, technology and human resources for green economic development, digital transformation, and just energy transition.
He hoped that the E.U. will help Vietnam realize the Political Declaration on Establishing Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) with international partners to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Asking the E.U. to remove its yellow card warning on Vietnam, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will to ensure interests of fishermen for sustainable development.
He also sought the E.U.’s assistance for Vietnam in improving fishing management capacity, modernizing fishing sector in terms of aquaculture process, technique, preservation, logistics and retail, and building a closed-end value chain in the sector.
Via the guest, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue conveyed his invitation to E.P. President Roberta Metsola to visit Vietnam at a convenient time this year.
Source: VNA