Vietnam, EP aspire to augment all-around cooperation
VOV.VN - The European Parliament (EP) and the nation share interests in a wide range of fields, with the EP looking forward to working alongside the country to ramp up co-operation across multiple fields such as trade and investment, COVID-19 prevention and control, and climate change response.
David Sassoli, president of the EP, made the statement during a meeting held on September 8 with National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking Vietnamese NA delegation.
Sassoli expressed his great appreciation for the Vietnamese role in the region, especially its co-operation in dealing with challenges to water resources, the ongoing saline intrusion, and drought occurring on the Mekong River which has seriously impacted production activities and lives of the regional people.
In response, NA Chairman Hue affirmed that the EU represents the most important partner in Vietnamese foreign policy and international integration.
The two sides have consistently maintained high-level meetings, regular co-operation and dialogue mechanisms, whilst effectively carrying out a broad array of important co-operation agreements, such as the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), thereby taking the joint comprehensive partnership to new heights. This includes co-operation between the Vietnamese NA and the EP, he emphasised.
At the talks, both sides compared notes on a host of issues in order to deepen the relationship that exists between the two parliaments, thereby helping to promote the strong development of mutual relations for greater benefits.
As a way of boosting economic and trade ties in a comprehensive manner, the top Vietnamese top legislator expressed a wish that the EP would have a voice so that parliaments of countries which have yet to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) soon adopt this important agreement. This is viewed as a necessary step to ramping up investment co-operation as a means of meeting the need and interests of firms, whilst continuing to facilitate the most effective implementation of the EVFTA.
With regard to co-operation against COVID-19, the Vietnamese NA leader thanked the EP, representatives of relevant EU agencies, and groups of parliamentarians at the EP for their support given to the country in the fight against the pandemic.
He therefore suggested that the EP support the supply of COVID-19 vaccines from Europe, share unused vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, provide essential medical equipment and COVID-19 treatment drugs, whilst co-operating in vaccine production.
NA Chairman Hue asked the EP to support the removal of the regulations placed on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) yellow card for Vietnamese fisheries as a means of helping to ensure the livelihoods of Vietnamese fishermen. The nation has since exerted greater efforts in order to take a range of synchronous measures aimed at dealing with the issue and has subsequently obtained very positive results in this regard.
With regard to bilateral co-operation through the parliamentary channel, NA Chairman Hue underlined the need for the two sides to increase meetings at all levels. He also cordially invited the EP President to visit the nation to discuss issues of shared concern, whilst considering setting up co-operation frameworks between the NA and the EP that are substantive, effective, and commensurate with the current relationship of strategic significance.
The EP President therefore acknowledged Vietnamese proposals and affirmed that the EVFTA is an exemplary model of co-operation. The EP has approved the ratification of the EVIPA and is in the process of pushing for ratification by the parliaments of the remaining member states.
He also affirmed the EP's readiness to share the country’s current difficulties and make efforts to mobilise the supply of vaccines and medical equipment for the nation’s use in COVID-19 prevention and control activities as soon as possible.
The two leaders agreed that the relationship between the Vietnamese legislature and the EP has progressed, with positive developments occurring in both bilateral and multilateral channels.
Amid the negative impact of the pandemic, the two sides still maintain meetings via online formats in order to discuss EVFTA enforcement and other international issues. They have also consented to intensifying delegation exchanges at all levels, along with information and experience sharing in parliamentary activities, including legislative work.
During the meeting, the pair also discussed issues relating to peace, security, and co-operation across the globe, whilst emphasizing the role of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) in settling disputes and maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation.
They therefore concurred to boost closer co-ordination and make positive contributions to support regional and international multilateral forums.
Immediately after the talks, NA Chairman Hue received a number of business leaders and the EP Friendship Parliamentary Group who came to discuss a score of measures aimed at bolstering specific co-operation in areas of shared concern, including trade and the implementation of the EVFTA.