Senior leaders receive EC President
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang hosted separate receptions for the President of the European Commission (EC), Manuel Barroso on a working visit to Vietnam to boost broader Vietnam-EU cooperation.
The Party Chief highlighted the significance of the EC President’s visit to Vietnam as a contribution to enhancing bilateral ties while hailing the EU’s strength in high-end human resource training. He proposed the EU support for Vietnam in building and fine-tuning human resource development and management policies.
Trong also urged both sides to strengthen cooperation in other areas of the EU’s strength and Vietnam’s demand.
The EC President praised the flourishing comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU over the years, affirming that the EC treasures its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam and appreciates the country’s role in coordinating the ASEAN-EU relationship.
President Barroso stressed that his organization is working with relevant Vietnamese agencies to rapidly ratify the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and conclude the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) negotiations soon.
Meeting with President Sang the same day, Manuel Barroso said he was impressed by Vietnam’s dynamic development in a multitude of areas, noting that both sides have a wealth of opportunity and a great deal of potential for expanding relations in the future
Barroso said during talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, they held that the ratification of the PCA will provide a solid legal foundation for the two sides to strengthen cooperation. They also pledged utmost efforts to conclude EVFTA negotiations by the end of this year.
The EU is in favor of resolving the disputes through diplomatic channels, supporting the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and the world in accordance with international law, Barroso noted.
President Sang described President Barroso’s Vietnam visit as an important milestone in creating a breakthrough in bilateral relations in the future.
He said he hopes Vietnam-EU economic and trade will make great strides after the EVFTA is reached.
The two sides also agreed upon the peaceful settlement of the East Sea issue on the basis of respect for international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), security, safety and liberalization of international maritime trade.
