Prime Minister Phúc welcomes European Parliament Vice President

January 08, 2019 - 07:00

Việt Nam has always considered cooperation between its National Assembly and the European Parliament (EP) an important pillar of bilateral relations, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc affirmed while receiving EP Vice President Heidi Hautala in Hà Nội on January 7.

A view of the talks between Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and European Parliament Vice President Heidi Hautala. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam considered its co-operation between its National Assembly and the European Parliament (EP) an important pillar of bilateral relations, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said while receiving EP Vice President Heidi Hautala in Hà Nội on Monday.

PM Phúc said the European Union was Việt Nam’s leading partner and bilateral relations were developing well, reflected through the maintenance of high-level meetings that had helped boost mutual understanding and trust.

He said that Hautala’s visit would strengthen relations between Việt Nam and the EU.

Hautala said the EP delegation would hold sessions and survey the enforcement of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade.

Regarding the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), she said the EP would continue to listen to Việt Nam’s proposals to speed up the ratification of the deal.

PM Phúc said the relationship between Việt Nam and the EU held great potential.

He said Việt Nam would appreciate support from the EP to help speed up the ratification of the EVFTA.

Regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the PM said after receiving a “yellow card” warning from the European Commission, Việt Nam had been working to tackle the problem, and asked for the yellow card rescinded.

The PM said he had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to speed up the completion of documents to be submitted towards the ratification of the trade agreement in the first quarter of 2019.— VNS 

 

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