VGP – High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from August 11-12 at the invitation of Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh.
This is the first visit of the Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to the Southeast Asian country since the Lisbon Treaty came into effect since 2009.
The relations between Viet Nam and the EU are developing positively and comprehensively. Both sides already signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and launched the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement talks in June 2012.
The two sides have maintained regular exchange of high-level delegations. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and PM Nguyen Tan Dung visited the EU in January last year and October 2010, respectively.
Viet Nam set up strategic partnership with six EU members, namely the UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France and Italy.
Regarding trade ties, the EU is one of Viet Nam’s major trade partners with the two-way trade value reaching US$33.7 billion in 2013.
As of June this year, European investors pledged to pour nearly US$18,4 billion in Viet Nam.
Between 2014 and 2020, the EU committed to granting €400 million, up 30% compared to the previous period of 2007-2013./.
By Hai Minh
Đăng ký: VietNam News
