National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue receives Chair of the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister in Hanoi on February 23, 2023

Chairman Hue said Vietnam always supports the strengthening of ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and stays ready to play an active role in the process.

Vietnam is also willing to work with the EP to promote the implementation of the initiative on establishing the EU-ASEAN Parliamentary Council, which is seen as a platform to help advance the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, he said.

McAllister said the EP wants to further reinforce ties with ASEAN parliaments in general, which is also the reason for its establishment of a liaison office in Indonesia, according to the VOV.

Vietnam – important partner of EU: EP Foreign Affairs Committee. (Source: diplomacyandcommerce)

The EU appreciated Vietnam’s support for the EU-ASEAN relationship, he said, highlighting the Vietnamese delegation’s constructive engagement in the ASEAN-EU Summit Commemorating the 45th anniversary of their relations in Brussels, Belgium, last December.

The EU and ASEAN share commitments to multilateralism and rules-based international order, McAllister said.

He reiterated that the EP supports ASEAN’s efforts in seeking solutions to the crisis in Myanmar, and calls on the country’s military authorities to seriously observe the Five-Point Consensus agreed upon by ASEAN leaders.

The EU is steadfast in its view on the need to ensure the rule of law in the East Sea, as well as the vital importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation in the region, he affirmed, reportd the baoquocte.

McAllister noted with pleasure the growing economic and trade ties between the two sides, saying the EU is ASEAN’s third biggest trade partner, after the US and China, and the second foreign investor in the 10-member grouping.

Apart from bilateral cooperation in energy, the environment, national defense-security, the EP is willing to support Vietnam based on its proposals to lift bilateral ties to a greater height.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue says the EU is a top important partner in Vietnam’s foreign policy

The Vietnamese legislative leader proposed that McAllister, with his position as Chair of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, continue to support the development of EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN relations, raise the EP’s role in leveraging the advantages of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to advance trade ties and maintain EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN supply chains, and facilitate the exchange of delegations at the committee level between EP and the Vietnamese legislature.

He also suggested the EP push the approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by remaining EU member states, considering it a foundation to launch the EU's "Global Gateway" initiative in the region.

Vietnam is ready to support and boost cooperation between the EU/EP and ASEAN/ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), as well as jointly carry out the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action for 2023-2027 to help the EU connect with the ASEAN market and step up negotiations on the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, he said.

Hue also called on the EU to continue to promote and contribute to ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation in the East Sea for peace, stability and development in the region and the world, strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Mekong sub-region, assist Vietnam in capital, technology and human resources for green economic development, digital transformation, and just energy transition.

He hoped that the EU will help Vietnam realise the Political Declaration on Establishing Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) with international partners to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Asking the EU to remove its yellow card warning on Vietnam, Hue affirmed that the implementation of the European Commission’s recommendations on fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will to ensure interests of fishermen for sustainable development.

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