FM holds talks with EC Vice President

The agreement was reached during the talks between Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Josep Borrell Fontelles, Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in Ha Noi on July 30.

The Foreign Minister expressed sincere thanks to Borrell for travelling to Ha Noi to attend the state funeral of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He proposed the two sides closely cooperate to effectively implement the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Bui took the occasion to urge the EC to promptly lift its "yellow card" warning against Viet Nam's seafood exports, basing on the nation’s efforts and achievements in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Bui called upon the remaining EU member states to quickly ratify the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to optimize the full potential of bilateral economic partnership.

The minister suggested the EU continue providing official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam through bilateral and multilateral cooperation channels, and regional programs, focusing on urgent areas such as public governance capacity building, green economy, digital economy, circular economy, and sustainable fishery development.

He sought the EC’s support in terms of financial aid, technology transfer, and human resources training for Viet Nam to implement the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), including the establishment of a carbon credit market connected to the international market and the development of green hydrogen projects.

Viet Nam is willing to serve as a bridge to promote the EU’s cooperation with the region, including strengthening the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and implementing their action plan for 2023-2027, he said.

In reply, the EC Vice President reiterated the bloc’s commitment to joining hands with Viet Nam to effectively carry out existing dialogue mechanisms and and develop cooperative in such areas as politics, diplomacy, trade-investment, defense-security, climate change response, and energy transition.

He pledged to push the remaining EU member states to ratify the EVIPA, facilitating a breakthrough in bilateral investment cooperation.

Josep Borrell Fontelles promised that the EU supports Viet Nam's goal of achieving net-zero emissions through the effective implementation of JETP and wishes to enhance collaboration with the country under frameworks such as the EU's Global Gateway Initiative.

He also pledged to spur high-level exchanges and further elevate the partnership to a new, more dynamic and comprehensive level as the two sides prepare to celebrate 35 years of diplomatic relations in 2025.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual interest, the pair acknowledged that it is vital to cooperate with each other to resolve global challenges, including traditional and non-traditional security issues.

The EU backs Viet Nam and ASEAN's stance on freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful settlement of disputes, and adherence to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 as well as an early finalization of a practical and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea./.