A line-up of activities will be held by the friendship group of parliamentarians who love Vietnam in the European Parliament (EP) in 2016 to enhance cooperation with Vietnam.

The group’s President Jan Zahradil, who is Vice-Chair of the EP’s International Trade Committee, made the statement during a meeting with Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong, Head of the Vietnam Delegation to the EU, on February 23 at the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels.

Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong (L) and the group's President Jan Zahradil at the meeting

Jan Zahradil said that the activities include a conference in March discussing impacts and opportunities that the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) created for both sides and a talk on the harmful effects of Agent Orange/dioxin on the Vietnamese people held in May. A Vietnamese fashion show and film screening are scheduled for July and September to popularize Vietnamese culture, he added.

He underscored that the group will pay a visit to Vietnam at the end of the year to learn more about socio-economic development in the country.

Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong thanked the group for supporting Vietnam in external relations while highlighting significant events between Vietnam and the EU in the past year, such as the establishment of the friendship group of parliamentarians, the conclusion of EVFTA negotiations and the EP’s ratification of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

He expressed his hope that the group’s parliamentarians will continue their support for Vietnam and enhance relations with the country.

The friendship group of parliamentarians who love Vietnam in the EP was set up in November 2015 on the occasion of 25th celebration of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the EU. The group comprises 32 members from various parties.

Source: VNA