Deputy Prime Minister holds talks with EC Vice President

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh, Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, paid an official visit to Vietnam from August 11-12. 

During the visit, Ms. Ashton held talks with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh, and also met with Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Deputy PM, Minh, thanked the EU and its member states for their precious support for Vietnam during the country’s national development and international integration.

He appreciated the union’s decision to increase official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to 400 million EUR for the 2014 - 2020 period, up 30% compared to that of the 2007-2013 period.

Ms Ashton appreciated Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development as well as its increasing role and position in the regional and global arenas.

Photo: CPV

The two sides showed their appreciation of the rapid and positive development of their bilateral ties in all areas. The EU is now Vietnam’s largest export market, the biggest non-refundable aid provider and leading investor in Vietnam. Despite difficulties in the world economy, two-way trade reached over USD33.7 billion in 2013, an increase of 16% compared to 2012.

In regard to the future cooperation between Vietnam and the EU, the two sides agreed that they would increase the exchange of high-level delegations and continue creating favourable conditions for their enterprises to invest in each other’s market, particularly in the areas of; industry, infrastructure, transport, energy, finance, health care, tourism and service, while at the same time promoting partnerships in specific areas, including; education-training, science-technology, natural resources and environment, agriculture and rural development, justice, culture-tourism, information-communication, transport and construction.

The two sides also confirmed their efforts to conclude negotiations for the Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement in October, and the EU’s early recognition of Vietnam as a market economy.

The two sides agreed to increase dialogue and collaboration at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, as well as within the framework of the ASEAN-EU cooperation.

Vietnam hailed the EU for its contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community, and its engagement in sub-regional cooperation initiatives, as well as its commitment to playing an active and constructive role in the evolving regional architecture with ASEAN being the core in East Asia. As the coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations for the period 2012 - 2015, Vietnam will gear its efforts to bring the ASEAN-EU relations to an effective stage.

The two sides committed to support the building of Southeast Asia to become a peaceful, stable, cooperative and friendly region, stressing the need for maritime and air security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, and supporting peaceful measures in line with international laws in addressing disputes in the East Sea.

During her visit to Vietnam, Ms Ashton visited President Ho Chi Minh’s relic site, the Women Museum and the Hoa Lo Prison historical site.

Source: CPV