High Representative for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini on August 3 started a three-day visit to Vietnam, marking the highest ranking European leader to Vietnam since 2014. 
Federica Mogherini, High Representative for the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. Photo: Baoquocte
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This is the latest move of the partnership in permanent crescendo following recent steps that boost the bilateral ties namely the holding of the first EU-Vietnam Joint Committee in May 2019 with the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), and the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) on June 30, 2019.
During the day, Federica Mogherini held a strategic dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, gave courtesy calls to Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
According to a post on his Facebook, Ambassador - Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Bruno Angelet, Federica Mogherini discussed a security and defense cooperation partnership with Minister of Defense Ngo Xuan Lich.
The two sides have discussed measures to boost cooperation in trade and investment, security, and defense, especially the EU shared Hanoi's concerns over escalation in the South China Sea (SCS).
In a working session with the Vietnamese top diplomat, Federica Mogherini reaffirmed the EU's stance on supporting the free maritime and aviation navigation in the SCS, the ongoing negotiations on the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS, the solutions of conflicts on the basis of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Notably, she shared the understanding of Vietnam’s concerns on Beijing-caused recent moves, saying that the steps are unfavorable for the regional peace and stability.
Vietnam and the EU will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bilateral ties in 2020.
