Viet Nam-EU Joint Committee holds fourth meeting

The meeting was co-chaired by Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia and Pacific in the European External Action Service and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Abroad range of topics in the various fields of their bilateral cooperation, including political issues, security and defense cooperation, trade and investment, sustainable development, official development assistance, fisheries, climate change and the sustainable energy transition, as well as good governance, the rule of law and human rights were put to discussions.

The EU commended Viet Nam's commitment to become climate neutral by 2050. The EU and Viet Nam reviewed recent progress on their Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) which brings together Vietnamese authorities and international partners in a joint endeavor to support Viet Nam's low-emission and climate resilient development.

The JETP will promote investment for the decarbonization of Viet Nam's electricity system to bring down greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the international climate change agenda.

Both sides will continue their joint efforts towards the launch of the JETP's Resource Mobilisation Plan at the earliest opportunity. They reiterated that for the transition to be just and equitable, regular consultation is required, including with media, NGOs and other stakeholders so as to ensure a broad social consensus.

The EU invited Viet Nam to the third Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum to be held in Brussels on February 2, 2024.

The two sides exchanged views on recent security developments, and agreed on the need to find peaceful solutions while respecting the principles of international law and the UN Charter.

On Ukraine, the EU and Viet Nam reiterated their positions as expressed in other fora. They also underscored the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law.

The EU and Viet Nam reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and international law including the need to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states.

They also shared views on the situation in the Middle East and in Myanmar and discussed the EU-ASEAN partnership.

As regards the East Sea, they expressed concern at recent developments and reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight and stressed the importance for all parties to abide by international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They discussed the potential for enhancing security cooperation, including in the areas of maritime security and cybersecurity. The EU reiterated its gratitude for the deployment of two Vietnamese officers to the EU Training Mission in the Central African Republic.

The EU and Vietnam discussed sustainable fishery developments, including ongoing actions with regard to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

They shared their respective positions and objectives for upcoming environment and biodiversity-related international negotiations with the aim to build possible synergies for sustainable global development.

Support for international law and the international order based on international law, good governance, the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and engagement of relevant partners are essential elements of the EU-Viet Nam relationship, they noted./.