Hanoi (VNA) – The European Union (EU) wantsto import tropical agricultural products from Vietnam, EU Commissioner forAgriculture Janusz Wojciechowski told Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh inHanoi on July 11.

Wojciechowski, who is on his first visit to Vietnam asthe EU Commissioner for Agriculture, said the EU is investing in some projectson sustainable and smart agriculture in the Southeast Asian nation.

Stressing the importance of small-scale agriculturethat produces 30 percent of global food, the EU Commissioner said Vietnam hasexperience in this field and the two sides should cooperate.

Wojciechowski also expressed his support for theVietnamese government in sustainable development and protection of agriculturalproduction activities, especially small-scale farming.

For his part, Thanh said the visit by the EUCommissioner offers an opportunity for the two sides to enhance cooperation,particularly in agriculture and trade.

The EU is an important economic partner, the fifthbiggest trade partner, the third largest buyer, the fifth largest importer andsixth biggest investor of Vietnam, the official emphasised.

Since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)took effect in August 2020, two-way trade has increased rapidly, reachingnearly 57 billion USD last year, up 15 percent year-on-year.

In the first five months of this year, the valuestood at nearly 26.2 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 14.4 percent.

Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with the EU,especially in the global food and foodstuff system building, Thanh said, notingVietnam wishes to expand collaboration with the bloc in agriculture, especiallytrade, investment, climate change adaptation, green agriculture, and thebuilding of farm produce supply chains.

The Deputy PM suggested the EU facilitate the exportof Vietnamese agricultural and fishery products to the market, and called onthe EU Commissioner to encourage EU firms to invest in Vietnam, focusing on high-techagriculture and farm produce processing.

Ample room still remains for the bilateralagricultural cooperation, he noted.

Thanh also informed Wojciechowski about Vietnam’sefforts to remove the European Commission (EU)’s 'yellow card' warning on Vietnam’sfishery sector, and proposed the EU soon lift it.

In this regard, the EC Commissioner lauded Vietnam’sprogress and urged the country to step up efforts in the fight against illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing./.