Vietnam greatly values all-around partnership with EU
VOV.VN - Vietnam always places importance on the Vietnam - EU comprehensive partnership, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son during a reception for a delegation of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) in Hanoi on February 15.
At the meeting, FM Bui Thanh Son welcomed the European business delegation's visit to Vietnam in a bid to step up trade and investment cooperation between the two sides.
Son also expressed his pleasure at the positive development of the Vietnam - EU partnership and comprehensive cooperation, while hailing the assistance the EU and its members had given to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.
He appreciated The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has been carried out for more than two years, adding fresh impetus to boosting bilateral trade and encouraging EU businesses to expand investment in Vietnam.
The EU is currently the fifth largest trading and investment partner of the Southeast Asian nation, he said
Regarding the cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU, Son said Vietnam always supports their strategic partnership, suggesting the two regions maximize the cooperation potential in trade, investment, digital transformation, green industry, energy transition, and climate change response.
The Vietnamese diplomat noted his appreciation for the role of the EU-ABC and Eurocham as bridges for European businesses’ cooperation with ASEAN and Vietnam.
He asked the EU-ABC and EuroCham to continue supporting Vietnam and the EU to effectively carry out the EVFTA to capitalize on advantages created by the deal, promote EU members’ ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), identify cooperation priorities in the fields matching the EU’s strength and Vietnam’s demand like climate change response, energy transition, circular economy, transport, and aviation; and encourage European firms to make green growth investments in Vietnam.
On behalf of the EU-ABC and EuroCham, EU-ABC Vice Chairman Jens Ruebbert, who is also Managing Director & Regional Head Asia/Pacific at Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, applauded the progress in the ASEAN-EU and Vietnam-EU relations, noting that the EU-ABC and EuroCham have been making tireless efforts to connect European companies with ASEAN countries, including Vietnam.
He shared the view that the EVFTA and EVIPA are important driving forces for bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties in the coming time.
The EU-ABC and EuroCham will stand side by side with the Vietnamese Government in promoting ASEAN-EU and Vietnam-EU economic cooperation priorities, and incentivize European firms to increase investment and business in the country, Ruebbert added.
At the meeting, Minister Son affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s readiness to offer the best possible conditions for foreign investors, including those from Europe.