Vietnam’s Reunification Express named among top 10 world’s most amazing train journeys
	Australia PM ‘enhances co-operation’ with Europe over ‘destabilising’ Bien Dong Sea
	Vietnamese tuna exports to several markets bounce back vigorously

Photo: TG&VN

The meeting took place on the occasion that Vietnam-EU celebrated 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations (November 28, 1990 - November 28, 2020) and 4 months that the EVFTA came into effect.

The meeting welcomed 40 delegates from Vietnam's ministries and agencies, as well as more than 50 representatives from the EEAS, the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union and the Embassies of the EU member states in Vietnam.

In an atmosphere of openness, trust, and friendship, Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung and Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the EEAS Gunnar Wiegand reviewed the cooperation since the first meeting of the Vietnam - EU Joint Committee, which happened on May 2019. The two highlighted the results of cooperation contents of 4 sub-committees within the framework of the Vietnam-EU Joint Committee and outlined directions for the cooperation of the coming period.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive and extensive development of the Vietnam-EU relationship over the past 30 years. They emphasized their wish to further deepen the strategic cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the EU through promoting delegation exchanges at all levels, maintaining existing cooperation/dialogue mechanisms, coordinating in the effective implementation of the EVFTA, promoting the Parliament of EU member countries to early ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to help recover both sides' economy.

Photo: TG&VN

Vietnam and EU agreed to strengthen cooperation in overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in the field of peacekeeping, dealing with traditional security issues, maritime security, and climate change ...

The leaders highly appreciated cooperation efforts and expressed their hope to continue effective coordination in clean energy, sustainable fisheries development, as well as the procedure to remove EU yellow card on fisheries as well as promote sustainable wood trade.

Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung welcomed the role of EU in efforts to improve global governance efficiency and implement the Asia-Europe connectivity plan, as well as strengthen the role of the Asia-Pacific region, which included practical and effective support for Vietnam in natural disaster prevention, early flood warning and climate change response.

For his part, Mr. Gunnar Wiegand affirmed the EU's priorities for cooperation in areas such as climate change and digital transformation. He highly appreciated Vietnam's tenure as UNSC non-permanent member in the term of 2020-2021 and as ASEAN Chair in 2020. The Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the EEAS thanked Vietnam for its important contributions to strengthening and promoting ASEAN-EU relations, and its support in upgrading ASEAN-EU relations to the tile of strategic partner. He appreciated that Vietnam had invited the Senior Representative on EU Foreign and Security Policy to attend the “Guests of the Chair” Program and the 10th Anniversary of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM +) on December 9 and 10.

Photo: TG&VN

The EU representative highly values Vietnam's ​​socio-economic development achievements; acknowledging that the Covid-19 pandemic prevention had been successful thanks to the solidarity and direction focus from central to local levels of Vietnam.

The EU affirmed its support for maintaining maritime and aviation security and safety and upholding the law in the Bien Dong Sea (South China Sea). The EU delegate spoke highly of Vietnam's position in the region; emphasized ASEAN's increasingly important role in maintaining peace, stability, security and defense in the region.

Vietnam thanked the EU and its member countries for having raised a clearer and stronger voice on many regional and international issues, including the Bien Dong Sea. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in global affairs, actively support multilateralism, and contribute to strengthening peace and development regionally and globally.

The meeting adopted a joint press release and agreed that the third meeting session would take place in Hanoi in 2021.

Vietnamese French adoptee reunites with biological mother after decades of separation Tan finally found his birth mother after 27 years thanks to the power of the Internet and social media. He had earlier returned to Vietnam ...

PM Phuc affirms the UK as Vietnam's major and friendly partner to UK Trade Secretary Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed Viet Nam always regards the UK as its major and friendly partner during his reception for UK Trade Secretary ...

EVFTA offers ample room for Vietnam-Netherlands cooperation in fashion industry With the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), trade ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands, especially in the fashion industry, are expected to ...