Foreign Minister meets foreign leaders in Paris

These meetings were held on the sidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2023.

Meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, Bui reiterated that Viet Nam attaches importance to and hopes to enhance the comprehensive partnership with Brazil, one of its most important partners in Latin America.

He suggested the two sides maintain high-level delegation exchanges as well as coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He recommended Brazil support and push the launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).

Viet Nam stands ready to serve as a bridge helping strengthen sectoral partnerships between ASEAN and Brazil, along with the ties between ASEAN and MERCOSUR, he noted.

Both sides underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea to peace and prosperous development in the regions and the world.

They shared the view that all disputes must be resolved peacefully via dialogue and on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

During his meeting with FM Bui Thanh Son, Diplomatic Advisor to the French President Emmanuel Bonne expressed the determination to promote the Viet Nam-France strategic partnership.

He noted there remains vast room for bilateral trade and investment links to grow further, thus the two sides should fully and effectively carry out the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Bonne said France would soon consider the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The two sides pledged to back the expansion of cooperation in potential fields like climate change response and renewable energy production, and in addressing regional and global issues.

At the meeting with Executive Vice President of the EC Valdis Dombrovskis, Bui called on the EC to promote the EVIPA ratification by the parliaments of member countries to create breakthrough in bilateral investment, and soon remove the "yellow card" against Viet Nam's seafood exports.

He asked both sides to work closely to implement the commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to help with energy transition in Viet Nam.

Dombrovskis said Viet Nam is an important partner of the European Union (EU) in Asia-Pacific and recommended the two sides step up connections in trade, investment, and climate change response.

He also took note of Viet Nam's proposal for accelerating the EVIPA ratification.

Both sides discussed the possibility of expanding ties in other aspects such as labor, health care, and pharmaceuticals.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they affirmed support for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law.

*Meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng, the Vietnamese diplomat called on the North American country to continue opening its market to key exports of Viet Nam such as agricultural and fishery products, apparel, footwear, and steel.

The officials agreed on the need to keep fostering the Viet Nam-Canada comprehensive partnership, especially in high-level delegation exchanges, trade and investment, green transition, OECD programs, and education-training, as the countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

The two countries will also capitalize on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and bolster coordination at regional cooperation mechanisms such as ASEAN-Canada and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), they said./.