Vietnam deepens ties with European partners

Vietnam and its European partners would continue to deepen the partnership to address global challenges and ensure prosperity for both.

The view was shared during meetings between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his European counterparts on December 14, which were part of the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU Dialogue Relations in Brussels.

During a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the prime minister highlighted the significance of Scholz’s recent visit to Vietnam as it marked a new milestone in bilateral relations.

Chinh called for two sides to strengthen economic cooperation and collaboration in other fields of high potentials, such as climate change, energy transition, digital economy, and green growth.

The German Chancellor hoped that the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership would continue to prosper in all aspects.

The two leaders agreed to support each other in regional and international affairs to contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Photos: VGP

At talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Chinh said Vietnam gives priority to its relations with Italy, one of the key members of the EU and G7, as well as Vietnam’s top economic partners in Europe.

Chinh called on both sides to take advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to reach a bilateral trade turnover of US$7 billion in the next two or three years.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister called on Italy to ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) soon and support Vietnam's attempt to convince the EU to lift its yellow card for seafood products soon, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese products to access the European market.

Meloni agreed with Chinh’s proposal and expected both countries to strengthen ties in all spheres, especially as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership.

She called for both sides to continue promoting bilateral cooperating mechanisms, including the organization of the 4th defense dialogue in Italy in 2023.

PM Chinh and Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

In a meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, both leaders expressed their delight at the positive progress in bilateral relations in recent years and agreed to further take the partnership to a new height, especially in economic-trade-investment cooperation.

Chinh highlighted the significance of the EVFTA to bilateral trade and expected Portugal to approve the EVIPA soon and support the EU in lifting the yellow card on Vietnamese seafood exports.

“Vietnam and Portugal could strengthen cooperation in tourism, science-technology, green growth, and digitalization,” Chinh said.

For his part, Costa stressed his commitment to convincing the EU to lift its yellow card on Vietnamese seafood and expected the EVIPA to be ratified in 2023.

He said both countries could promote cooperation in infrastructure development, renewables, and green investment projects.

At the meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Chinh said Vietnam prioritized the long-standing relations with the Czech Republic and thanked the country for supporting Vietnam during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said Vietnam would continue to create favorable conditions for imports from the Czech Republic, including crystal products, beer, food, and machinery, and expected Czech authorities to open markets for Vietnamese textiles, footwear, farm produce, seafood, and tropical fruits.

On this occasion, Chinh thanked the Czech Government for recognizing the Vietnamese communities in the country as an ethnic minority group.

Fiala considers Cezch relations with Vietnam as the strongest between his country and those in Asia and hoped both to deepen the relations via the EVFTA and sign a memorandum of understanding in automobile production, including electric cars.

He suggested both to soon establish a direct flight to enhance people-to-people diplomacy and boost tourism.

Chinh in a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

In his talks with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Chinh called on both countries to redouble their efforts to bring bilateral trade volume to $3 billion in the next two to three years.

Chinh urged Poland to ratify the EVIPA for mutual benefits and support the EU’s efforts to lift the yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.

Morawiecki highlighted the political trust and economic-trade cooperation between the two countries, which remains significant amid growing global uncertainties.

He called for both sides to strengthen trade, pharmacy, shipbuilding, and defense cooperation.

Chinh and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Meeting President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Chinh said Vietnam expects to strengthen cooperation with the EU and remains the only country in ASEAN to have established a comprehensive partnership with the EU in all fields of politics, economy, defense, and security.

Chinh called for the EU to support Vietnam in developing its maritime economy and economic restructuring and soon lift the yellow card on its seafood.

He urged the soon ratification of the EVIPA, saying the move would open up new opportunities for businesses from the two sides.

Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement between Vietnam and G7 on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), as this would pave the way for the EU to step up investment in green projects in the country.

The EC President expressed her support for Vietnam in promoting sustainable development of the maritime economy and marine biodiversity.

She noted that the EU is willing to cooperate with Vietnam to ensure food security in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Chinh and European Council President Charles Michel.

At talks with European Council President Charles Michel, the two sides highlighted the progress in Vietnam-EU relations since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership ten years ago.

They agreed to promote Vietnam-EU relations to a new height during the next decade, focusing on green and sustainable development.