HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam wishes to promote friendship with the European Union (EU), Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA), Bernd Lange. 

During their meeting in Hà Nội yesterday, PM Phúc expressed his delight at relations between Việt Nam and the EU in recent times, especially in trade and investment, saying EU businesses are operating effectively in the country. 

Apart from the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Co-operation, which has come into force, the upcoming signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) would be an important milestone helping lift bilateral ties to a new height, the leader said. 

Both Việt Nam and the EU hope the pact will bring benefits to their businesses and people, he stressed.   

The PM thanked the European Parliament, the European Commission and agencies for facilitating the EVFTA negotiations. 
“This is the golden opportunity for Việt Nam and the EU to seal the agreement,” he said, noting his hope that the two sides will continue their co-ordination to reach the deal at the end of this year. 

He told his guest that the Vietnamese Government has instructed ministries and agencies to work with the INTA delegation to remove bottlenecks to enhance trade links between Việt Nam and the EU and accelerate the signing of the EVFTA.  

Lauding the role of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (Eurocham), the leader said he has taken into consideration the agency’s consultations in administrative reform. 

For his part, Bernd Lange said his visit aims to reinforce co-operation between Việt Nam and the EU. 

He congratulated Việt Nam on its economic achievements, citing its growth of more than 7 per cent in the first half of 2018.

Regarding the EVFTA, Bernd Lange said the agreement will play an active role in investment attraction while helping spur economic growth for both sides.

He suggested Việt Nam and the EU promptly complete documents related to the deal towards the signing later this year, and step up the information work so as to help their businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises and raise their awareness of the pact.

Parliaments’ friendship

On the same day, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân also met with Lange to discuss future co-operation potential between Việt Nam and the EU. 

The Vietnamese top legislator spoke highly of and thanked the contributions made by Lange in promoting friendship between the Vietnamese NA and the European Parliament (EP), adding that it has helped to further strengthen the comprehensive co-operation. 

For his part, Lange said the stable economic development with high growth has contributed to helping reduce poverty in Việt Nam. 

He said the EP is making every effort to promote the official signing and approval of the EVFTA, which is slated for late 2018. 

The INTA commits to doing its best in making the signing and approval of the agreement effective on the basis of cooperation with the Vietnamese NA and to solve any outstanding issues. — VNS