EU urged to remove “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports

President To Lam received Josep Borrell Fontelles, Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Hanoi on July 30.

At the function, Lam thanked Borrell Fontelles, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from July 29-31 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, for attending the state funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which demonstrates the importance the EU places on the late Party leader’s significant contributions to Vietnam – EU ties.

Lam highlighted the EU as an extremely important partner of Vietnam, and noted with satisfaction that the bilateral relations have been growing well over the recent past as reflected in increased high-level exchange visits and meetings, and the effective implementation of many cooperation and dialogue agreements and mechanisms.

After four years of enforcement, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has added extra impetus to their trade and investment, turning Vietnam into the largest ASEAN trading partner of the EU. Meanwhile, partnerships in tourism, education - training, culture - arts, and people-to-people exchanges are vibrant, helping to enhance mutual understanding and foster ties in other spheres, he told his guest.

The host leader asked the two sides to intensify delegation exchanges, especially those at high levels, while effectively carrying out the EU - Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EVFTA, and other cooperation deals and mechanisms.

Lam also called on the EU to accelerate its remaining member countries’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), soon remove the “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood exports on the basis of the country’s efforts and achievements in the combat against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, maintain official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, help the nation to effectively carry out the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and foster ties in cybersecurity, marine security, natural disaster and crisis response, and crime prevention and control.

Welcoming the EU’s cooperation strategies and initiatives towards the Indo-Pacific region,  he stated that Vietnam stays ready to serve as a bridge linking the EU with the region, including strengthening the EU’s strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He added that the country’s socio-economic achievements aim to benefit the people. The State of Vietnam considers people as the centre of and momentum for sustainable socio-economic development. The administration is of the people, by the people, and for the people. All people in Vietnam have the right to freedom of religion and belief along with their broad access to the internet and social media guaranteed.

In response, Borrell Fontelles hailed Vietnam’s balanced foreign policy and voiced support for its goal of becoming a developed and high-income nation by 2045 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

He noted that the EU views Vietnam as a leading partner in the region and one of the important players of international relations at present and in the future.

The bloc is strongly carrying out some cooperation strategies and initiatives, including cooperation projects with ASEAN and in Vietnam within the framework of its Global Gateway Initiative. It wishes to take the relationship with the Southeast Asian nation to new heights, the EU official remarked.

Agreeing with his host’s opinions, Borrell Fontelles expressed his confidence that with the President’s attention, the Vietnam - EU ties will see intensive and extensive development for the sake of both sides.

Concerning some international and regional issues, the two sides agreed that countries need to share the responsibility for contributing to security and development in the region and the world, and conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.

Concerning the East Sea issue, the EU official underscored the East Sea's importance in international trade.

Both sides affirmed the continued support for ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and for settling disputes peacefully in line with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a way of consolidating regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long received Borrell Fontelles, during which Long thanked the latter for coming to pay the last respects to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which reflects the importance the EU attaches to the departed Party leader’s contributions to Vietnam – EU ties.

He stated that the EU is one of the leading partners of Vietnam. With common efforts, the bilateral ties are developing well, from traditional fields like politics - diplomacy, trade - investment, and development cooperation to new areas, including defence - security and climate change response, within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

The Deputy PM called for the European Commission (EC)'s early removal of its “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood exports while receiving Josep Borrell Fontelles, EC Vice President and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The EU is currently the top supplier of non-refundable aid, the fourth largest trading partner, and the fifth biggest investor in Vietnam, which in turn ranks first among ASEAN trading partners of the EU.

Both sides have also worked actively together in such areas as defence - security, justice, labour, agriculture, science - technology, and environment to reap many practical results. Among them, a highlight is the cooperation in climate change response, according to the host official.

Long suggested the EU continue intensifying all-level delegation exchanges, especially those at high levels, to enhance political trust, creating a stepping stone for partnerships in other spheres. He also delivered PM Pham Minh Chinh’s congratulatory letter to the EC President and invited the latter to pay a visit to Vietnam in the near future.

He asked the two sides to coordinate to fruitfully enforce the EU - Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), as well as other cooperation deals and mechanisms on the threshold of the 35th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

He also called on the EU to promote its remaining member countries’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the EC’s early removal of the “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood exports on the basis of the nation’s efforts and achievements in the combat against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

For his part, Borrell Fontelles greatly valued Vietnam’s development achievements along with growing role and position in the region and at multilateral forums.

The EU views Vietnam as a priority and important partner in the Asia-Pacific region, he said, adding that it hopes the two sides will elevate the bilateral relations and enhance connections in defence - security, climate change response, the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) implementation, justice, and the fight against IUU fishing, he added.

Appreciating the EU’s projects that have helped with Vietnam’s socio-economic development and integration into the world, Long proposed the EU maintain the provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the fields of public governance capacity building, green transition, digital transformation, sustainable fishery development, financial and technological support, and manpower training to help the country effectively carry out the JETP.

At the meeting, both sides also compared notes on some international issues of shared concern. They agreed that conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they shared the stance that disputes in the East Sea should be settled peacefully in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus helping to guarantee security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation and consolidate peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world.