Vietnam greatly values comprehensive partnership with EU
VOV.VN - Vietnam highly values its comprehensive partnership with the EU, asid Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son at a meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) Margaritis Schinas in Ho Chi Minh City on October 21 on the sidelines of the ongoing Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE).
During the meeting, the Vietnamese diplomat noted his satisfaction with the positive developments in relations with the EU, elaborating that Vietnam is the only ASEAN member state to have a full framework of cooperation with the bloc, and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has given extra leverage to both sides’ trade and investment.
As Vietnam and the EU prepare to celebrate 35 years of diplomatic ties in 2025, the deputy PM hoped they would continue working hand in hand to take their ties to new heights. He suggested intensifying high-level exchanges and contacts while effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms between their ministries and sectors.
He stated that the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), once in force, will create new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment cooperation, especially in areas such as the environment, green transition, digital transformation, and the circular economy. He also urged the EC to swiftly lift its "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood exports under the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing framework as a contribution to Vietnam’s sustainable fisheries development.
On this occasion, Son thanked the EU for its ongoing support of Vietnam’s sustainable development efforts through substantive cooperation programmes and projects as well as its timely assistance of 800,000 EUR to help Vietnamese people recover from the impact of Typhoon Yagi.
For his part, Schinas hailed Vietnam's recent economic and social progress and noted that the Vietnam-EU cooperation has huge potential to grow in the time ahead.
He affirmed in addition to positive trade and investment relations, the EU seeks to boost collaboration with the Southeast Asian nation in areas where it holds a leading position, particularly green transition, environment, and climate change response. Schinas also consented to push for the rapid ratification of the EVIPA by EU member states to create a favourable environment for the expansion of their economic ties.
On the same day, at a meeting with Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tapani Tavio, Deputy PM Son stated Vietnam values its traditional friendship and all-around cooperation with Finland. He expressed his delight at the recent progress in bilateral collaboration across various fields, including politics-diplomacy, economy-trade, development, and education-training.
He proposed that both sides continue to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts and strengthen ties between their ministries and businesses so that they can fully capitalise on the benefits of the EVFTA to enhance trade links.
Applauding the Finnish Parliament's ratification of the EVIPA, he suggested the nations expand joint work in potential sectors like high technology, telecommunications, renewable energy, environment, water treatment, and forest management.
Hailing Finland's strengths in education, the official recommended enhancing collaboration in high-quality human resources development and fostering ties between their educational institutions.
Minister Tavio highlighted Vietnam as a successful development model in its region and affirmed Finland’s wish to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly in climate action and green transition – areas where Finnish businesses have significant experience and a long-standing presence in Vietnam.
He also consented to expand cooperation in education and training, to continue fostering comprehensive ties with the EU, and holding exchanges and consultations at international and regional forums.
