Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (left) and President of the European Council Charles Michel (Photo: VNA)During their meeting in Brussels, Michel welcomed the working visit to the European Council and the EP by the Vietnamese delegation todiscuss issues of shared concern across spheres, especially mutual support inthe COVID-19 fight and post-pandemic recovery, and ASEAN-EU cooperation.
Pointing out the pandemic’s impacts on the progress andefficiency of the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA), he suggested the two sides work harder to optimise the deal’spotential.
Michel also shared his views on peace and security inIndo-Pacific and the rules-based order, and affirmed that the EU wants to expandand deepen cooperation with Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
For his part, Hue said this is his first visit to Europe inhis capacity as NA Chairman and on behalf of Vietnam’s high-ranking leadersin the new tenure, which demonstrates the importance Vietnam attaches to theEU and the EP.
The EU is a leading partner of Vietnam in terms oftrade and investment, he said, noting that after more than one year of implementing theEVFTA, bilateral trade expanded 18 percent despite a range of difficulties causedby COVID-19.
At the meeting (Photo: VNA)He suggested the European Council continue to supportbusinesses of the two sides and urge parliaments of EU countries to soon ratifythe EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Hue called on the EU to assist and share itsexperience with Vietnam in such areas as sustainable development, digitaleconomy, green economy, and high-quality personnel development.
Regarding the pandemic fight, Hue thanked the EU forits donation of 2.4 million doses of vaccines, saying he hoped that theEuropean Council and the European Commission will prioritise Vietnam inaccessing Europe’s vaccine sources via the COVAX Facility or sharing redundantvaccines, and provide the Southeast Asian nation with medical supplies and COVID-19treatment drugs.
The top legislator said with its capacity and effortsto ensure vaccines for domestic demand and the region, Vietnam would like to receivethe European Council’s support for cooperation in vaccine production in the country.
Vietnam has made efforts to deal with illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, he said, calling for the European Council’ssupport so that the European Commission will soon remove the “yellow card” against thecountry.
Vietnam also stands ready to cooperate with the EU inissues relating to human rights in the spirit of candidness, openness, mutual respect and understanding, he affirmed.
Hue also said Vietnam will continue to closely coordinatewith the EU and the EP in multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and is willingto work as a bridge between the EU and the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN).
The EU side pledged to further assist Vietnam in thepandemic combat, including the access to COVID-19 vaccines and drugs, andmedical supplies.
The two sides also discussed measures to lift the “yellowcard” warning against Vietnam’s seafood products, and narrow differences inhuman rights-related matters.
For regional and international issues, they shared theview that in the face of COVID-19 and climate change, it is necessary torestructure the global economy and join efforts and actions to respond to climate change.
They voiced their support for an ASEAN region of stability,peace and prosperity, and maintaining security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation on the basis of respect for international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.
VNA
