Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue meets President of the European Council Charles Michel on Wednesday in Brussel. (Photo: VNS)

National Chairman, European Council President look towards stronger Vietnam-EU ties

Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel have agreed to further beef up bilateral cooperation while underlining the significant role of the Vietnamese legislature and the European Parliament during their meeting held on September 8 in Brussels.

Charles Michel suggested the two sides work harder to optimize the potential of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He shared his views on peace and security in Indo-Pacific and the rules-based order and affirmed that the EU wants to expand and deepen cooperation with Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

In response, Vuong Dinh Hue said the EU was a leading partner of Vietnam in terms of trade and investment. He suggested the European Council continue to support businesses and urge parliaments of EU countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

With regard to the pandemic fight, Hue thanked the EU for donating 2.4 million doses of vaccines, saying he hoped that the European Council and the European Commission will prioritize Vietnam in accessing Europe’s vaccine sources via the COVAX Facility or sharing redundant vaccines. The NA leader said Vietnam would like to receive the European Council’s support for cooperation in vaccine production in the country.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed measures to lift the “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood products, and narrow differences in human rights-related matters. They voiced their support for an ASEAN region of stability, peace, and prosperity, and maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli pose for a photo ahead of their meeting on September 8. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Vietnam, EP aspire to augment all-around cooperation

The European Parliament (EP) and Vietnam share interests in a wide range of fields, with the EP looking forward to ramping up cooperation across multiple fields such as trade and investment, Covid-19 prevention, and climate change response. David Sassoli, president of the EP, made the statement during a meeting held on September 8 with Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking Vietnamese NA delegation.

The top Vietnamese top legislator expressed a wish that the EP would have a voice so that parliaments of countries that have yet to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) soon adopt this important agreement. He thanked the EP, representatives of relevant EU agencies, and groups of parliamentarians at the EP for their support in the fight against the pandemic. Hue, therefore, suggested that the EP support the supply of vaccines, essential medical equipment, and treatment drugs, whilst cooperating in vaccine production.

He asked the EP to support the removal of the regulations placed on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) yellow cards for Vietnamese fisheries as a means of helping to ensure the livelihoods of Vietnamese fishermen. With regard to bilateral co-operation through the parliamentary channel, Hue underlined the need for the two sides to increase meetings at all levels. He also invited the EP President to visit the nation to discuss issues of shared concern.

The EP President affirmed the EP's readiness to share the country’s current difficulties and make efforts to mobilize the supply of vaccines and medical equipment for the nation’s use in Covid-19 prevention and control activities as soon as possible. Sassoli expressed his great appreciation for the Vietnamese role in the region, especially its cooperation in dealing with challenges to the Mekong River issue.

At the talks, both sides compared notes on a host of issues in order to deepen the relationship that exists between the two parliaments, thereby helping to promote the strong development of mutual relations for greater benefits. The pair also discussed issues relating to peace, security, and cooperation across the globe, whilst emphasizing the role of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) in settling disputes and maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation.

Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Economy and Labor Pierre-Yves Dermagne welcomes National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in Brussels. (Photo: VOV)

Top legislators want to enhance Vietnam - Belgium relations

Vietnam attaches great importance to developing cooperative relations with Belgium and wishes to strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all fields and through all channels, says Vuong Dinh Hue during his meeting with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Economy and Labor Pierre-Yves Dermagne in Brussels on September 9.

Hue highly appreciated Belgium’s coordination in multilateral cooperation, including promoting the ASEAN-EU relations, especially in 2020 when Vietnam was the ASEAN Chair and Belgium was a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The NA Chairman thanked the Belgian Government for donating 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to support Vietnam in pandemic control and proposed that Belgium, through the COVAX mechanism, continue to support Vietnam in accessing and ceding redundant vaccines.

Dermagne spoke highly of the results of the delegation’s working sessions with the European Council and the European Parliament, as well as business discussions of the two countries. He thanked Hue for receiving many leading Belgian enterprises to meet their interests and desires to increase bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of the economy, trade, and investment.

Both sides were satisfied that the Vietnam-Belgium relations have developed well over the past time. They stressed the importance of implementing practical measures to develop the two countries' relations in a substantive and comprehensive manner. They agreed that the two countries will strengthen strategic coordination within ASEAN and ASEM, especially when the EU and ASEAN have established their strategic partnership.

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