While receiving Werner Langen, head of the EP delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN countries, Mr Khiem said he welcomed the EU’s proposal to conduct negotiations of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with Vietnam.

The deputy PM said as Chairman of ASEAN 2010, Vietnam will do its utmost to promote the cooperative relations between ASEAN and the EU.

For his part, Mr Langen remarked that Vietnam is developing dynamically and the EU wants to maintain and develop its fine ties with the country. He agreed with Mr Khiem that the two sides need to further dialogues and exchanges in the spirit of construction and mutual trust.

The same day, the delegation worked with leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice. The delegation later left for Ho Chi Minh City.