Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and EP Vice President Heidi Hautala (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA)– Vietnam has always considered cooperation between its National Assembly andthe European Parliament (EP) an important pillar of bilateral relations, PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed while receiving EP Vice President HeidiHautala in Hanoi on January 7.
PM Phuc said that theEuropean Union is Vietnam’s leading partner and that the bilateral relationsare developing well, reflected through the maintenance of high-level meetings,helping boost mutual understanding and trust.
He expressed hisbelief that this visit to Vietnam by the EP Vice President will contribute tostrengthening the relations between Vietnam and the EU in general and the twolegislatures in particular.
Heidi Hautala informedher host that during the visit, the EP working delegation will hold workingsessions with Vietnam’s relevant offices and survey the enforcement of the VoluntaryPartnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).
Regarding theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), she affirmed that the EP will continuelistening to Vietnam’s proposals to speed up the ratification of the agreement.
This is anext-generation FTA, she stated, suggesting both sides ensure firm andeffective enforcement to achieve sustainable trade development.
The EU is willing tosupport Vietnam during the process, she added.
Appreciating thesentiments of his guest, Phuc said that Vietnam-EU relations hold much developmentpotential and opportunities and as such, the two sides should carry outspecific measures, including stepping up all-level delegation exchanges; andincreasing the efficiency of cooperative channels on politics, diplomacy,economics, and development cooperation.
He voiced his hope toreceive support from the EP and its Vice President to help speed up theratification of the EVFTA, affirming that the early enforcement of theagreement will create a new driving force and boost collaboration between thetwo sides, especially in economics.
Regarding illegal,unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the PM said that after receiving a“yellow card” warning from the European Commission, the entire political systemof Vietnam has joined hands to take drastic measures to fight IUU fishing. Heasked for the EP Vice President’s help in pushing the EC’s removal of theyellow card.
Regarding the VPA/FLEGT,Phuc said that the two sides officially signed the agreement during his workingvisit to the EU last October.
Vietnam’s policy is todevelop the forestry sector sustainably, with the focus on developing timberprocessing for export and using materials legally.
He informed his guestthat he had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to workwith relevant offices to speed up the completion of documents to be submittedtowards the ratification of the agreement in the first quarter of 2019.
Vietnam hopes toreceive support from the EP and its Vice President towards an earlyratification of the agreement so that it can serve as a legal foundation toensure Vietnam’s wood and timber products exported to the EU have officialorigin certificates, thus bringing about greater benefits for both sides. –VNA
PM Phuc said that theEuropean Union is Vietnam’s leading partner and that the bilateral relationsare developing well, reflected through the maintenance of high-level meetings,helping boost mutual understanding and trust.
He expressed hisbelief that this visit to Vietnam by the EP Vice President will contribute tostrengthening the relations between Vietnam and the EU in general and the twolegislatures in particular.
Heidi Hautala informedher host that during the visit, the EP working delegation will hold workingsessions with Vietnam’s relevant offices and survey the enforcement of the VoluntaryPartnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).
Regarding theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), she affirmed that the EP will continuelistening to Vietnam’s proposals to speed up the ratification of the agreement.
This is anext-generation FTA, she stated, suggesting both sides ensure firm andeffective enforcement to achieve sustainable trade development.
The EU is willing tosupport Vietnam during the process, she added.
Appreciating thesentiments of his guest, Phuc said that Vietnam-EU relations hold much developmentpotential and opportunities and as such, the two sides should carry outspecific measures, including stepping up all-level delegation exchanges; andincreasing the efficiency of cooperative channels on politics, diplomacy,economics, and development cooperation.
He voiced his hope toreceive support from the EP and its Vice President to help speed up theratification of the EVFTA, affirming that the early enforcement of theagreement will create a new driving force and boost collaboration between thetwo sides, especially in economics.
Regarding illegal,unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the PM said that after receiving a“yellow card” warning from the European Commission, the entire political systemof Vietnam has joined hands to take drastic measures to fight IUU fishing. Heasked for the EP Vice President’s help in pushing the EC’s removal of theyellow card.
Regarding the VPA/FLEGT,Phuc said that the two sides officially signed the agreement during his workingvisit to the EU last October.
Vietnam’s policy is todevelop the forestry sector sustainably, with the focus on developing timberprocessing for export and using materials legally.
He informed his guestthat he had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to workwith relevant offices to speed up the completion of documents to be submittedtowards the ratification of the agreement in the first quarter of 2019.
Vietnam hopes toreceive support from the EP and its Vice President towards an earlyratification of the agreement so that it can serve as a legal foundation toensure Vietnam’s wood and timber products exported to the EU have officialorigin certificates, thus bringing about greater benefits for both sides. –VNA
VNA
