President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Ambassador GiorgioAliberti, head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, told President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 1 that he is willing to supportVietnam in accessing COVID-19 vaccine sources and vaccine technology transfer from Europe.
The ambassador applauded Vietnam’s efforts in the pandemicfight and expressed his hope that the country will successfully complete itsvaccine rollout.
During the reception for Aliberti, the President thanked the EUfor its medical support through the COVAX Facility and Team Europe, andcalled on the EU to help Vietnam enhance its capacity for COVID-19 vaccinationand production.
Phuc expressed his delight at the activedevelopment of the partnership and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnamand the EU over the past time.
The EU has become a leading important partner ofVietnam in many regards, the President said, adding that the two sides havesigned a number of cooperation agreements in politics, trade, investment, andnational defence and security such as the EU-Vietnam Partnership andCooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the FrameworkParticipation Agreement (FPA) and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on ForestLaw Enforcement, Governance and Trade.
Such documents have created a firm foundation for thetwo sides to lift their relations to a new high, Phuc said.
Lauding Aliberti’s contributionsto the Vietnam-EU ties, Phuc suggested the ambassador continue to urgethe European Parliament (EP) to soon complete procedures to ratify theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
The ambassador, for his part, spoke highly of Vietnam’snon-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.
He thanked Vietnam for its support in upgradingthe ASEAN-EU relationship to a strategic partnership, and noted his wish thatthe two sides will continue their cooperation within the framework, for thesake of ASEAN countries and the EU.
While discussing regional and international issues ofshared concern, Aliberti emphasised the significance of international law,notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS)to regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.
On this occasion, the ambassador handed over a congratulatoryletter of European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Phuc asked the ambassador to convey his invitations tothe EU’s high-ranking leaders to visit Vietnam./.
VNA
