The agreement, which is considered a milestone in EU-Viet Nam relations, was reached between the two sides during talks held yesterday between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and visiting President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.
The two discussed measures to enhance co-operation between Viet Nam and the EU in various fields, particularly in economy, politics, security, science and technology and education.
They agreed to increase exchanges of delegations, support each other at regional and international forums, create favourable conditions for businesses in each other's markets.
They also agreed to increase co-operation in a wide range of areas, particularly those where the EU is strong, such as education and training, natural resources and environment, agriculture and rural development, transport and construction.
PM Dung proposed measures to help boost trade and economic relations, such as the EU soon ratifying the PCA and considering the development gap between Viet Nam and other EU member countries in EVFTA negotiations.
He thanked the EC and EU member countries in supporting Viet Nam's socio-economic development and international integration.
The EC President said he believed Viet Nam would promote economic reform and continued to be an attractive destination for investors, including investors and businesses from EU countries.
The two sides also stressed the need to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea.
Later the same day, the EC President Barroso met Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
Barroso said he appreciated Viet Nam's positive results in mitigating the global economic crisis's impacts, curbing inflation, keeping macro-economy stability and ensuring social security.
He said the EC attached great importance to developing the friendship and co-operation with Viet Nam and said the EU was working with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to ratify the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Co-operation Agreement and complete negotiations for the EVFTA.
Party leader Trong said he hoped the bloc would assist Viet Nam in developing human resources and management policies.
Yesterday, EC President Barroso was received by President Truong Tan Sang who said Viet Nam saw the role of the EU as highly important, predicting that co-operation between the two sides would increase.
He proposed Barroso sign the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.
The two sides welcomed progress in negotiations towards a Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement and expressed the wish to conclude the negotiations swiftly. They emphasised that a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would offer new business opportunities for economic operators, enhance inflow of Foreign Direct Investment and promote growth and employment.
