Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland (the UK), on November 1 (local time).

At the meeting with PM Morrison, the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral cooperation issues as well as coordination in regional and international matters of mutual concern.

PM Chinh thanked the Australian Government and PM Morrison for the timely donation of the Covid-19 vaccine and medical equipment to help Vietnam overcome the difficult period and hoped that Australia would continue assisting Vietnam in the future. PM Morrison said Australia will donate an additional 3.7 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnam.

PM Chinh stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relations with Australia and suggested Australia increase the import of farm produce and other products from Vietnam, and continue assisting the Southeast Asian country in traffic infrastructure, response to climate change, digital transformation, and renewable energy.

PM Morrison promised to join hands with the Government of Vietnam to deploy measures to promote bilateral cooperation in a sustainable manner. He invited Vietnam to attend a clean energy supply chain summit to be hosted by Australia in 2022.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders agreed to closely maintain cooperation at multilateral forums and shared the view on ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in seas and oceans, including the East Sea, based on the principles of international law.

PM Chinh took this occasion to invite PM Morrison to visit Vietnam soon and the Australian leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and EC President Ursula von der Leyen. (Photo: VNA)

At his meeting with EC President von der Leyen, PM Chinh affirmed that the European Union (EU) is one of the leading strategic partners of Vietnam, adding that the EU plays an important role in security, peace, economic, and development issues in the region and the world as well.

He thanked the EU and its member nations for their timely support of Covid-19 vaccines and medical equipment and expected that the EC will continue to assist Vietnam in getting access to vaccines and medical supplies.

PM Chinh affirmed that economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot in Vietnam-EU relations and proposed the EU create favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural and aquatic products, to enter the EU market.

The government leader suggested the EU urge its member states to complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to soon enforce the pact effectively and protect the legitimate benefits of businesses of both sides.

EC President von der Leyen said the EU will continue aiding Vietnam via the direct export of Covid-19 vaccines and the COVAX Facility. Having expressed her support for PM Chinh’s proposals, she applauded Vietnam’s commitment and contributions to the fight against climate change.

Regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, PM Chinh said he had directed provinces and cities to strictly implement regulations on combating IUU fishing and take drastic measures to prevent illegal fishing. He proposed the EC consider removing its “yellow card”, provide technical assistance for and help Vietnam carry out solutions to combat IUU fishing, thereby contributing to ensuring livelihoods for fishermen and undisrupted supplies for the EU market.

The EC President said she was glad to hear the information and pledged to direct EU agencies to consider Vietnam’s proposal on lifting the “yellow card”.

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