Vietnam regards EU as top important partner in its external policy

The nation always backs the enhancement of ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and stays ready to play an active role in the process, Hue told his guest.

He also affirmed the country’s willingness to work with the EP to accelerate the implementation of the initiative on establishing the EU-ASEAN Parliamentary Council, which is viewed as a platform to help promote the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.

In response, McAllister, said the EP wishes to further boost ties with ASEAN parliaments in general, which is also the reason for its establishment of a liaison office in Indonesia. 

Apart from bilateral cooperation in energy, the environment, national defence-security, the EP is willing to support Vietnam based on its proposals to take bilateral ties to new heights.

The top Vietnamese legislator proposed that McAllister, with his position as Chair of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, continue to support the development of EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN relations, raise the EP’s role in leveraging the advantages of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to advance trade ties and maintain EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN supply chains, and facilitate the exchange of delegations at the committee level between EP and the Vietnamese NA.

He also suggested the EP push the approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by remaining EU member states, considering it a foundation to launch the EU's "Global Gateway" initiative in the region.

Vietnam is ready to support and step up cooperation between the EU/EP and ASEAN/ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), as well as jointly carry out the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action for 2023-2027 to help the EU connect with the ASEAN market and accelerate negotiations on the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, he stated.

The Vietnamese NA leader also called on the EU to continue to promote and contribute to ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea for peace, stability and development in the region and the world, augment cooperation within the framework of the Mekong sub-region, assist Vietnam in capital, technology and human resources for green economic development, digital transformation, and just energy transition.

He said he hoped that the EU will help Vietnam carry out the Political Declaration on Establishing Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) with international partners to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Hue also asked the EU to remove its yellow card warning on Vietnam, and affirmed that the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will ensure interests of fishermen for sustainable development.

He also sought the EU’s assistance for Vietnam in improving fishing management capacity, modernising fishing sector in terms of aquaculture process, technique, preservation, logistics and retail, and building a closed-end value chain in the sector.

The NA Chairman used the occasion to convey his invitation to EP President Roberta Metsola to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time this year.