Brussels (VNA) – Vietnam has set a greatexample of cooperation with the European Union (EU), President of the EuropeanCommission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen told Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha inBrussels on October 25.

At the meeting, which took place on the sidelines ofthe Global Gateway Forum organised by the EU, Leyen affirmed that Vietnam is animportant partner in implementing cooperation strategies and initiativesin the region.

For his part, Ha affirmed that Vietnam values thepartnership and comprehensive cooperation with the EU, hailing its newstrategies and initiatives on strengthening cooperation with the Asia-Pacific.

He expressed his hope that the EU and itsmember countries will further support Vietnam in finance, technology, and personneltraining to serve climate change response and energy transition.

Ha also called on the countries to soon ratify theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and fully implement the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to promote trade and investment ties between thetwo sides.

The official suggested the EC consider lifting its “yellowcard” warning on Vietnamese seafood exports to spur the country’s recovery andsustainable development.

Leyen commended Vietnam’s close cooperation inclimate change response, especially in the implementation of the Just EnergyTransition Partnership (JETP), and thanked the country for its efforts in materialisingEC recommendations against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, sayingshe hopes that the issue will be resolved in the time ahead.

Regarding the implementation of the Global GatewayStrategy, the EC President pledged to further prioritise cooperation withVietnam in renewable energy, digital transformation, and green growth.

They shared the view that the signing of amemorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance andthe European Investment Bank (EIB) will create a foundation and favourable conditionsfor the two sides to step up collaboration in coping with global issues.

Both held that private enterprises and capital playa crucial role in realising the JETP.

Earlier, Ha and EIB President Werner Hoyer witnessedthe signing of the MoU on financial support worth 500 million EUR (527.77million USD) which aims to contribute to the rollout of the JETP.

The Global Gateway Forum is bringing togetherrepresentatives of governments from the EU and around the world with the privatesector, civil society, leading thinkers, financing institutions, andinternational organisations in a two-day, invitation-only event in Brussels on October25-26.

Addressing a session green energy transition andgreen hydrogen, Ha stressed that Vietnamis ready to work together with other countries for sustainable development.   
 
He appealed to developed countries and the privatesector to increase the supply of technology and green finance, support inpersonnel training, and management experience so that the whole world canachieve the same goal of net emissions by 2050./.