Representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium - the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) and the Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI) of the EU Council at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium - the Vietnamese Delegation to the European Union (EU) held a meeting with the Asia-Oceania Working Party (COASI) of the EU Council on April 17 to update the latter on the country’s socio-economic situation and foreign policy and suggest cooperation areas to be promoted.

In the opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao shared some outstanding results in Vietnam's socio-economic development, foreign policy achievements that Vietnam has gained recently as well as major orientations and policies of the Party and State, that have been proposed by the 13th Party Congress.

Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its relations with the EU amid the highly volatile regional and international situation.

Vietnam and the EU share many concerns in areas such as trade and investment, climate change, transition and green development, upholding respect for international law and cooperation in multilateral frameworks.

These may be potential areas for the two sides to consider promoting in the near future.

Vietnam and the EU have secured a foundation of long-term and comprehensive relations. Vietnam also has good relations with many EU member countries.

Therefore, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao said that after the difficult period due to the Covid-19 pandemic, facing common global and regional challenges, this is a good time for Vietnam and the EU to strengthen relations.

Thao expressed his belief that the COASI delegation’s visit will help build up mutual understanding to further intensify the Vietnam-EU links.

The 4th meeting of the Vietnam-EU Joint Committee to implement the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) took place in Brussels (Belgium) last October. Photo: VNA

COASI Chairman Michal Safianick said the COASI delegation coming to Vietnam will gather about 30 members, including representatives of 27 EU member states, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Council. The first trip of COASI to Southeast Asia aims to learn more about Vietnam and the region and seek opportunities for boosting Vietnam’s cooperation with the EU as well as the bloc’s members.

This is the first trip of the COASI delegation to Southeast Asia, to understand more about Vietnam and the region, thereby seeking opportunities to promote Vietnam-EU cooperation, as well as between Vietnam and EU member countries.

Vietnam and Indonesia are the two destinations chosen by COASI for this trip due to the importance and role of the two countries in the region.

At the meeting, representatives of EU member countries also expressed their hope that the trip will contribute to increasing understanding of Vietnam, especially the views and policies of the State of Vietnam on socio-economic development, security, defense and foreign affairs.

This thereby contributes to building common understanding, trust, opening up opportunities for cooperation.

Experts share cooperation opportunities at the Vietnam-EU Trade Forum, which took place in Ho Chi Minh City last November. Photo: VNA

Michal Safianick said the delegation wanted to explore Vietnam. Most of the members of the delegation have not been to Vietnam yet, so this will be a good opportunity for them to get closer to the Vietnamese people, contributing to the relationship between the two sides.

The two sides will consider all the opportunities ahead as well as challenges to better understand each other and further promote bilateral cooperation.

COASI delegations’ visits to countries/regions outside the EU are annual activities organized by the EEAS and COASI with a view to learning more about the regions and partners important to the EU to bolster the bloc’s relations with them and help develop the EU’s foreign policy.

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