EC President Barroso to visit Vietnam from August 25 - 26

President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will pay his second visit to Vietnam from August 25 -26, said the EU delegation to Vietnam today.

The relationship between the EU and Vietnam has grown stronger and closer since President Barroso and Prime Minister Dung launched the negotiations for the EU - Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), during President Barroso’s first visit in 2007.

President Barroso will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Dung on August 25, to discussing the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement negotiations, development cooperation and South China Sea/East Sea-related issues.

The EU-ASEAN relations - in particular the ASEM Summit - will also be a key element of their discussions.

These bilateral talks will be followed by a joint press conference and a joint signing ceremony of a trade-related assistance grant. The grant, worth of EUR2.3million, will be financed to six business associations and research institutes under the project "EU-MUTRAP".

Their last meeting was held in March, in The Hague, in the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit.

Besides, President Barroso will also pay courtesy calls on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang.

During the stay in Hanoi, he will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the National Economics University.

Next day, President Barroso is leaving for Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam’s business and economic hub. He is expected to meet with representatives of the EU business community and pay a courtesy call on Chairman of Ho Chi Minh city's People's Committee Le Hoang Quan.

(Source: CPV)