Viet Nam attaches importance to ties with EU

Viet Nam always attaches importance to expanding relations with the European Union in general and with each member country of the Union in particular.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that while meeting with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

The Government chief asked for EU’s quick ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and its support for early conclusion of the on-going free trade agreement.

He expressed his belief that the two agreements would give a strong boost to the trade and investment links between the two sides.

PM Dung also expected that the EU would continue granting official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam and recognize the country’s market economy status.

The European official said EC President Manuel Barroso will visit Viet Nam this year, which reflects the growing ties between Viet Nam and the EU.

She said the EU has decided to increase ODA for Viet Nam by 30% to €400 million in the period of 2014-2020 compared to the earlier period of 2007-2013 as part of the Union’s support for Viet Nam’s development course.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Catherine Ashton stressed that it was an important topic of a series of regional meetings held recently in Myanmar.

The EU is fully aware of the importance of international law in settling international disputes, emphasized Catherine Aston, hoping that the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China would be an important legal foundation to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

She said that during her meeting with the Chinese FM on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Myanmar,  she stated all conflicts and disputes in the East Sea must be addressed through peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

(Source: VGP)