Vietnam expects Greece’s support for enhancement of relations with EU

During the meeting, the top Vietnamese legislator also called on the European Commission (EC) and the European Union (EU) to soon ratify the EU- Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA, and remove the “yellow-card” warning against Vietnamese seafood products.

The Vietnamese NA leader expressed his pleasure to see that the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries have been constantly consolidated and developed well over the past time, as demonstrated by the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially between both nations’ senior leaders.

Notably, economic and trade cooperation has witnessed positive development, especially following the enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)

The NA Chairman suggested that the two countries continue to ramp up cooperation in areas of Greece’s strength and Vietnam’s need such as marine economy, shipbuilding, tourism, seaports. This should be done along with signing an agreement on double taxation avoidance and a shipping agreement to create favorable conditions for aeconomic and trade exchanges between the two sides.

He also thanked the Greek Parliament for accelerating the early ratification of the EVIPA and hoped that the two sides will cooperate closely in taking advantage of the benefits brought by the EVFTA and EVIPA, especially protecting the legitimate interests of enterprises of the two countries in investment and business activities in each side's market during the post-COVID-19 period.

Hue asked the Greek President to support strengthening the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in both the framework of bilateral cooperation and at multilateral inter-parliamentary forums.

He said he hopes that the two sides will jointly speed up the establishment of twin relations between localities, including finalizing procedures regarding the twin relationship between Sparta and Hue city of Vietnam as a contribution to strengthening people-to-people exchange.

On this occasion, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue voiced his hope that Greece would back ASEAN and Vietnam's stance on the East Sea on the basis of respect for international law, as well as other mechanisms with the centrality and the leadership of ASEAN.

In response, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou emphasized that despite the geographical distance between the two countries, they can beef up cooperation in the fields of history, culture and common policies.

The Greek President agreed with opinions put forward by the Vietnamese NA leader as saying that given the EVFTA, the two countries need to rely on each country's potential to further increase trade turnover in the time ahead.  She said she hopes that the future signing of agreements on maritime cooperation and double taxation avoidance are signed will help propel bilateral relations forward.

Greece takes the lead in protecting heritage against climate change, and has plenty of experience in education and tourism to share with Vietnam, she said, noting that the Vietnamese community in Greece as well as the Greeks in Vietnam will serve as an important bridge connecting the two countries’ people.