Hanoi (VNA)– Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted areception in Hanoi on August 5 for Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of theEuropean Commission and High Representative of the European Union for ForeignAffairs and Security Policy.

Ngan affirmed Vietnamalways considers the European Union one of its leading important partners,especially in economics, trade and investment.

She expressed herdelight at new steps of development in the bilateral comprehensive cooperationand partnership over the past time. The two sides signed the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement(EVIPA); implemented cooperation mechanisms such as Partnership and CooperationAgreement (PCA) and Human Rights Dialogue; and ratified the VoluntaryPartnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade(VPA/FLEGT).

Following Vietnam’sapproval of a resolution on its accession to the International LabourOrganisation’s Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention No.98 inJune, the country’s legislature is working with the Government to speed up theconsideration and approval of the organisation’s Conventions No.108 and 87, shestated, adding that the move reflects its determination and efforts toimplement commitments related to labour standards, which are mentioned in theEVFTA.

The top legislatorvoiced her hope that the European Parliament and European member states soonratify the EVFTA and EVIPA to realise both sides’ commitments to liberatedtrade and investment.

She told the guestthat she has urged the Government to complete procedures so that thelegislature can ratify the two deals in October.

Mogherini affirmed theEU’s continued support for Vietnam, especially in 2020 when it assumes theroles as the ASEAN Chair, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council inthe 2020-2021 tenure, and the Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly(AIPA).

Both host and guestsaid that the signing and ratification of legal documents and the highfrequency of visits by the two sides’ leaders demonstrate the priority of eachside to bilateral relations in its foreign policy, and open new prospects inthe bilateral ties.

Regarding the East Seaissue, Ngan affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance of solving disputes bypeaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Sharing the view,Mogherini stressed the importance of respecting international law, particularlythe UNCLOS 1982, in ensuring aviation and maritime freedom.

According to Mogherini, lying on an importantmaritime route, the East Sea brings about both economic and security benefitsfor numerous nations, including those in the EU.-VNA