Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the statement ata working session on September 21 with Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the EUDelegation to Vietnam, and ambassadors of EU member countries in Hanoi.
Minh said he is delighted at the positive development of the Vietnam-EUrelationship, especially both sides’ efforts to conclude legal reviews towardsthe official signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
He suggested Bruno Angelet and ambassadors of EU member countries work to developthe comprehensive partnership and cooperation between Vietnam and the EU aswell as its member nations in a practical and effective manner in the time tocome.
He expressed his wish that the EU countries will support Vietnam’s bid tobecome a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.
The official affirmed that Vietnam has been making every effort to deal with illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and proposed the EU soon remove its “yellowcard” warning to Vietnam’s fisheries sector.
For his part, Bruno Angelet said Vietnam occupies a high place in EU's externalpolicy and affirmed that he and the ambassadors of the EU member countries willtry their best to deepen the Vietnam-EU cooperation, particularly pushing forthe early signing of the EVFTA and bringing it into effect.
At the working session, Deputy PM Minh openly exchanged ideas with the EU ambassadorson priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy as well as regional and internationalissues of common concern such as traditional and non-traditional securitymatters, sustainable development, promotion of human rights, and maintenance ofpeace, stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.-VNA