Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan laudedcontributions by head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam BrunoAngelet to fostering Vietnam-EU relations when receiving the outgoing diplomatin Hanoi on August 1.

Ngan expressed herdelight at efforts to carry out the Vietnam-EU Partnership and CooperationAgreement and enhance economic, trade and investment ties.

Emphasising the recentsigning of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), she said she hopes both sides willwork towards the early ratification of the two agreements so that they can openup new cooperation opportunities for both sides’ enterprises.

Ngan stated that theNA and the European Parliament have intensified cooperation through stepping updelegation exchanges, sharing experience in law making, and exchanging views onregional and international issues of mutual concern.

The NA leader statedthat the Vietnamese legislature is willing to welcome members of the EuropeanParliament (EP) to the country to make the organisation understand more aboutthe Vietnamese situation.

Regarding the East Seaissue, the top legislator affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of solvingdisputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; implementing theDeclaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea fully and effectively;working with other ASEAN member states in speeding up the building of a Code ofConduct in the East Sea, and avoiding activities that complicate and expanddisputes in the sea.

She voiced her hopethat in any position, Bruno Angelet will continue contributing to the relationsbetween Vietnam and the EU in general and between the two parliaments inparticular.

The diplomat told hishost that the EU always does its best to foster the bilateral relations andsupport Vietnam’s development.

Vietnam currentlyreceives the most of assistance programmes from the EU in Southeast Asia, andis the only country to have a comprehensive set of agreements with the EU fromthe PCA to the EVFTA, the EVIPA, and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance andTrade (FLEGT), he stressed, adding that these results are thanks to Vietnam’sopen and friendly foreign policy.

He also acknowledgedthe country’s efforts in implementing its international commitments, includingthe ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s Right to Organiseand Collective Bargaining Convention No. 98.

The official expressedhis belief that in the time to come, both sides will maintain efforts torealise agreements signed, thus contributing to boosting both sides’development.-VNA