Brussels (VNA) – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong haspaid a four-day trip to the European Union and Belgium to promote agriculturalcooperation with the two partners and demonstrate Vietnam’s efforts to fightillegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

During the March 21-24 visit, through a series of meetings, the Vietnameseminister pushed for the EU’s lifting of a yellow card, which was imposed onVietnam on October 23, 2017 due to its failure to meet requirements on IUUfishing prevention.

In his meetingwith European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and FisheriesKarmenu Vella, Cuong reported current implementation of the EU’srecommendations on anti-IUU fishing in Vietnam, highlighting concerted effortsof the entire nation and challenges facing the attempt.

Cuong expressedhis hope for improved cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in fighting IUUfishing, and carrying out the Voluntary Partnership Agreement in line with theEU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, as well as the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The minister alsohad a working session with European Commissioner for Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Phil Hogan, during which he stressed the EU’s significant role toVietnam’s farming sector in terms of partnership, investment andknowledge-technical transfer.

Highlighting theimportance of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), he suggested bothsides soon ratify the pact to boost trade, particularly ofagro-fishery-forestry products.

Cuong asked the EUto take into consideration practical conditions of developing countries likeVietnam during its assessment and inspection of seafood safety control system.

Regarding measuresto implement the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, both host andguest agreed to hold more dialogues to discuss the document content and how to implementthe SPS regulations in the EVFTA.

Both commissionersacknowledged and lauded Vietnam’s drastic efforts in increasing laws andpolicies to counter IUU fishing and monitor food safety. They said the effortswill help stimulate the growth of bilateral comprehensive partnership andfacilitate the EVFTA signing and ratification.

The EU sideannounced that it will send a technical team to Vietnam in May to access thecountry’s actions against IUU fishing.

In another meetingwith Alain Cadec, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries, theVietnamese official introduced measures Vietnam has employed to deter IUUfishing and asked for support of the EU and Cadec to make the process moreeffective.

While in Brussels,the minister also met Belgium's Federal Minister for Agriculture Denis Ducarmeto beef up farming cooperation with the European country.

Both ministersagreed to promote investment collaboration in agriculture, with Cuongsuggesting the Belgian side assist Vietnam in meeting standards and regulationsof the country and the EU.

Denis Ducarme saidBelgium prioritises joint works with Vietnam, expressing his belief thatbilateral farming engagements will expand in the future.-VNA