Paris (VNA) – Leaders of the Vietnamese Partyand State always treasure and want to further promote the comprehensivecooperative partnership with the European Union, Deputy Minister of Foreign AffairsBui Thanh Son told President ofthe EuropeanParliament David Sassoli.

Duringa meeting with the EP President on February 11 as part of his working visit to Belgiumand France in his capacity as the Prime Minister’s special envoy, Son highly evaluatedthe fruitful development of the Vietnam – EU relations in different fields in therecent past, especially after the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement(PCA) between the two sides took effect.

He expressed his hope that the EP’s leadersand parliamentarians will continue to support and further promote the comprehensivecooperation between Vietnam and the EU in the time to come.

Sonalso appreciated Sassoli’s support as well as close cooperation of the EP’s agenciesin the process of approving the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

TheVietnamese National Assembly will soon ratifythe two agreements, Son said, affirming that Vietnam’s relevant agencies have beenstepping up the preparations for the effective implementation of commitments,especially those on sustainable development, labour, and environment.

He proposed the EPand the EU’s agencies to continue working closely with Vietnam in implementingthe agreements in the coming time.

For his part, Sassoli expressed his impression for Vietnam’ssocio-economic development and international integration achievements, andcongratulated Vietnam on undertaking its roles asthe ASEANChair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC)for the 2020-2021tenure.

Hepromised to support the enhancement of the EU-Vietnam comprehensive cooperation,stressing that the EU considers Vietnam as an important partner in Asia Pacificand wants Vietnam to continue its active contributions to strengthening cooperativeties between the EU and other ASEAN member nations.

TheEP President spoke highly of the close and effective coordination between theVietnamese National Assembly, Government and agencies, and the EP and the EU’sagencies in preparing for the approval of the EVFTA and EVIPA.

Heurged the two sides to continue their close coordination to ensure the effectiveimplementation of the agreements, thus bringing practical benefits to enterprisesand people of both sides.

Duringhis visit from February 4-12, Son also had important working sessions with EP VicePresident Pedro Silva Pereira, President of the EP’s Committee on InternationalTrade (INTA) Bernd Lange, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan; leaders of key partiesin the EU; and heads of the parliamentarian delegations of the EU membernations, to discuss issues of common concerns in preparation for the approvalof the two agreements.

Leaders of the EP and INTA,and key parliamentarians from the parties in the EP said they support the approvalof the two pacts, and promised to lobby EP parliamentarians to vote for them.

The EP isscheduled to vote for the approval of the EVFTA and EVIPA on February 12. Thetwo agreements were signed in Hanoi on June 30, 2019.

According to the VietnameseMinistry of Planning and Investment, the pacts are expected to help Vietnam'sgross domestic product (GDP) increase 4.6 percent and its exports to the EU rise42.7 percent in 2025. The European Commission estimated that the EU's GDP will increaseby 29.5 billion USD, while its exports to Vietnam will grow 29 percent by 2035./.