Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang received EU Ambassador to ASEAN Francisco Fontan Pardo
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Vietnam, as an ASEAN member, always supports the bloc’s efforts to intensify close cooperation with the European Union (EU) in all spheres, said Mr. Tran Van Hang. He noted that Vietnam supports the EU and ASEAN increasing their cooperation in all areas, noting that the finalization of negotiations on the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) marked an important milestone bringing the bilateral ties to a higher level.
Hang affirmed that the EU is currently a leading important partner of Vietnam in numerous fields, particularly trade, investment and development cooperation. He also reiterated the Party’s and State’s unwavering policy of attaching importance to the relations with the EU, hoping that the two sides maintain close coordination at regional and international forums.
The completion of negotiations on the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) marked an important milestone bringing the bilateral ties to a new height, he stated. He also confirmed the Party’s and State’s consistent policy of attaching importance to the relations with the EU, hoping that the two sides maintain close coordination at regional and international forums.
Ambassador Pardo in turn praised spoke of Vietnam’s achievements in its national construction, socio-economic development and its important role in ASEAN. He said he hopes Vietnam will continue promoting relations between the EU and ASEAN. He expressed his wish for continued support from Vietnam for the cooperation between the EU and ASEAN, as the country holds an important role in the grouping.
The Ambassador to said that the EU will double funding for ASEAN to fulfill its development targets. He said the EU will work to step up cooperation with ASEAN across the board, while supporting the bloc in building its pillars on security, economics and culture-society.
The EU will speed up negotiations on a free trade agreement and an aviation cooperation pact with the bloc, he added. The EU looks to strengthen mutual support with the bloc at regional and international forums, he stated. The diplomat also lauded multifaceted affiliations between the EU and Vietnam, expecting that his union’s ties with ASEAN will grow as strongly as with Vietnam.
The EU is currently the second largest trade partner of ASEAN and the third biggest investor in Southeast Asia .
