(VOV) – Vietnam attaches importance to developing stronger ties with the European Union (EU) and it wants to work closely with the EU to strengthen all-round cooperation in a practical and effective manner.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a reception for visiting European Commission Vice President Catherine Ashton in Hanoi on August 12.
He noted the positive development of Vietnam-EU relations in recent times and said Ashton’s current visit and the upcoming visit to Vietnam by EC President Manuel Barroso will bring fresh impetus to bilateral relations.
Dung proposed that the EU soon ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam, and conclude negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) proposed stronger Vietnam-EU ties at a meeting with EC Vice President Catherine Ashton in Hanoi on August 12 (Photo: VGP)
As both sides have huge potential for cooperation, the PCA ratification and FTA signing will help their trade and investment ties to prosper in the near future, he told Ashton.
The PM expressed hope the EU will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam and soon recognise its market economy status.
For her part, Ashton, who is also foreign policy chief of the EU, said her visit and Barroso’s upcoming visit, as well as regular meetings between the two sides, are testimony to the fine relations between the EU and Vietnam, showing the EU’s desire to tighten ties with Vietnam.
She announced the EU’s decision to increase ODA to Vietnam by 30% for 2014-2020 compared to the 2007-2013 period.
She said the EU is striving to ratify the PCA and conclude FTA negotiations with Vietnam at the earliest possible time. She went on to say that the two sides need to cooperate closely to ensure Vietnam meets the EU’s criteria to be recognised as a market economy.
Regarding the recent tensions in the East Sea, Ashton said this is an important issue which was discussed at the recent 47thASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Myanmar.
The EU is aware of the importance of using international law as an effective tool for settling international disputes, she said.
She expressed hope that ASEAN and China will soon formulate a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea to address pending issues at sea, so as to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
The EU diplomat told his host that during her meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of AMM 47 in Myanmar, she stressed any maritime disputes in the East Sea should be tackled through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
She shared the view that China’s unjustifiable ‘nine-dotted line’ claim that covers almost the East Sea area is the root cause of the dispute that may threaten peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and the whole region.
Đăng ký: VietNam News