Hanoi (VNA) – The European Union (EU) considersVietnam a leading partner in the region and is implementing many specificpolicies and measures to enhance its cooperative relations with the SoutheastAsian country, a senior EU official said on August 5.

During the talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign MinisterPham Binh Minh in Hanoi as part of her official visit to Vietnam from August3-5, Federica Mogherini, Vice President of the European Commission and HighRepresentative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, expressedher pleasure to visit Vietnam for the first time amidst active steps ofdevelopment in the Vietnam-EU relations.

The two sides highly valued outcomes of high-level meetings between Vietnam andthe EU over the past time as well as their partnerships in different areas likepolitics, national defence, economy-trade and development cooperation. Theyhighlighted the recent signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) andthe EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Host and guest agreed on the need to deepen the bilateral cooperation, towardsa more dynamic period, matching potential and better meeting interests of bothsides, especially in the context that Vietnam and the EU will mark the 30th anniversaryof diplomatic ties in 2020.

The two sides will step up all-level exchanges and realise cooperationmechanisms in the time ahead.

They shared the views that economic, trade and investment cooperation is animportant pillar of the Vietnam-EU ties.

Minh expressed his belief that Mogherini’s current visit will significantlycontribute to boosting the Vietnam-EU partnership and comprehensivecooperation.

He took the occasion to thank the EC and the Vice President for acceleratingthe EVFTA and EVIPA.

In this regard, Mogherini described the signing of the deals as a milestone inthe bilateral ties, and pledged to push ahead with ratification procedures,contributing to bringing about practical benefits to both sides.

Minh spoke highly of the EU and EU member states’ support for Vietnam duringthe country’s socio-economic development and international integration, whileasking the EU side to maintain official development assistance for theSoutheast Asian country so that it can enhance institutional capacity as wellas ability to respond to climate change, helping promote sustainabledevelopment.

He urged the EU to soon remove “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports,and together with Vietnam to positively carry out the Voluntary PartnershipAgreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).

The EU official stressed the EU stands ready to cooperate with Vietnam in thefields, and maintain development collaboration with the country.

At the event, the host hailed the EU’s role in global security and peace aswell as the bloc’s stance in maintaining stability and ensuring respect ofinternational law in the region and in the East Sea, particularly in thecontext that there are unilateral actions which increase tension, erode trust,infringe upon interests and violate sovereignty of many countries.

Mogherini affirmed the EU’s consistent stance of supporting freedom ofnavigation and aviation, settling disputes by peaceful measures on the basis ofrespecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea. Recent militarisation and tension have negatively impactedon regional peace and stability, she said, expressing her hope ASEAN and Chinawill soon reach a legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern,and agreed to bolster cooperation at multilateral forums, especially in 2020when Vietnam assumes the role as the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member ofthe United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, in order to boostmultilateral cooperation and ASEAN-EU collaboration, making contributions topeace, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world.-VNA