European Council delighted with pace of Viet Nam trade relations

President Truong Tan Sang (right) receives EC President Herman Van Rompuy yesterday in Ha Noi. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang

HA NOI (VNS)— Both Viet Nam and the European Council (EC) have declared themselves pleased with the rapid and positive development of bilateral relations in the areas of trade, politics and co-operation over recent years.

The remarks were made in speeches delivered by President Truong Tan Sang and the EC President Herman Van Rompuy in Ha Noi yesterday.

During the talks the two sides agreed to exchange delegations more regularly, and discussed ways of creating and encouraging more favourable conditions for Vietnamese and EU businesses to make long-time investment in each other's markets.

The EU pledged to provide Viet Nam with technical assistance and to step up negotiations to complete the signing of their Free Trade Agreement. They also agreed to formally recognise the status of Viet Nam's market economy as soon as possible.

Viet Nam asked the EU to maintain the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for the country in the 2013-2015 period, and prioritise the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement.

It also thanked the EU and its member countries for providing Viet Nam with official development assistance over many years. The two sides agreed to closely co-ordinate in the near future to effectively implement ODA programmes which will focus on poverty reduction, sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

They reached a consensus on intensifying dialogue and co-operation at regional and international forums, especially those within the framework of the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

Viet Nam praised the EU's contributions to the establishment of the ASEAN Community, and its commitment to helping ASEAN become an important core in East Asia.

With its role as a co-ordinator for ASEAN-EU relations in the 2012-2015 period, Viet Nam will try its best to promote this relationship, Sang said.

The two sides also supported efforts to build Southeast Asia into a region of peace, stability, co-operation and friendship, stressing the need to ensure maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea.

A contract was signed worth 150-million-EUR (US$195 million), funded by the European Investment Bank, to finance investments fighting climate change, and a statement was made on the signing of the EU Multilateral Trade Assistance Project.

Party, Gov't leaders

The same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also met with the visiting European Council President.

During the meeting, Party leader Trong spoke highly of the effectiveness of EU's co-operation and assistance to Viet Nam as well as its pledge for further assistance to the country until 2020.

Viet Nam hopes the EU will intensify and expand multifaceted co-operation in the fields where the two sides share strengths, Trong said.

For his part, Rompuy said the EU will maintain its assistance to Viet Nam as well as support the country's sustainable development, institutional reform and human resources development, and encourage European businesses to increase investment in Viet Nam.

The EU hopes to be a partner of Viet Nam not only in economics and trade but also in politics, he said, adding that the union also supports the settlement of marine disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of the international law.

At his reception for President Rompuy, Prime Minister Dung said that there is huge potential for co-operation between the two sides.

He also suggested both sides further enhance economic, trade, investment and tourism co-operation.

Viet Nam is improving its business environment and always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for EU investors in the country, he said.

Dung added that the two sides should continue to work closely during the first round of negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement, and for implementing the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.

While asking the EU for early recognition of Viet Nam's market economy status, Dung expressed his hope that the union will keep providing ODA to Viet Nam in building infrastructure, human resources training and coping with the impact of climate change and rising sea levels. — VNS

Source: Việt Nam News