Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyễn Văn Bình meets with Vice President of the European Parliament (EP) Dimitrios Papadimoulis in Brussels, Belgium.— VNA/VNS Photo Kim Chung

BRUSSELS — Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyễn Văn Bình said Việt Nam highly values its strategic partnership with the EU.

He was speaking during his recent working sessions with leaders of the European Commission (EC) and Parliament.

Bình in is Belgium to attend the Europa Connectivity Forum held by the EC.

The host leaders include Vice President of the European Parliament (EP) Dimitrios Papadimoulis, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, and Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade Bernd Lange.

Expressing his delight at growing bilateral ties, including the signing of the EU – Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU – Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), Bình suggested both sides work closely together to step up the EP’s ratification for the benefit of the people of Việt Nam and EP member states.

On regional and global issues, he exchanged ideas with the hosts about recent violations of Việt Nam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, and called on the EU to support Việt Nam’s stance of settling the disputes by peaceful means without use of force or threat to use force in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The European leaders expressed their wish to boost ties with Việt Nam and vowed to do their best to speed up the ratification of the two pacts.

The EU asked Việt Nam to consider adopting the International Labour Organisation’s several conventions.

Bình said Việt Nam’s commitment to global integration with specific roadmap, including fine-tuning domestic laws in line with international law and practices such as the ILO’s conventions No 98, 105 and 87.

On the East Sea issue, EC and EP leaders said their support for Việt Nam’s stance, holding that disputes should be settled via negotiations without use of force or threat to use force in line with international law, for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Earlier on Thursday, Bình delivered a keynote speech at the Europa Connectivity Forum. —VNS