Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) meets EU Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — The European Union (EU) is a top partner of Việt Nam in many fields and the relationship with the bloc holds a strategic and important position in the country’s foreign policy, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said while receiving Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Head of the EU Delegation to Việt Nam, in Hà Nội on Thursday.

At the reception for the diplomat on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of Việt Nam-EU ties, the PM highlighted the growing bilateral trade amid global difficulties, saying their mutual understanding has led to effective co-operation.

Aliberti said the 30th anniversary marks an important milestone in bilateral collaboration, which, he hoped, would be strengthened in many spheres in the time to come.

Noting that the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has created favourable conditions for the two sides to boost their partnership, he suggested they push bilateral trade and Việt Nam increase agro-aquatic product export to the EU.

The diplomat took the occasion to request the Vietnamese Government tackle obstacles to facilitate European enterprises’ operations in Việt Nam.  

Agreeing with the guest's opinions, PM Phúc said the EVFTA had brought immediate effects to both sides, particularly in helping their economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Chair of ASEAN 2020, Việt Nam is pleased with the establishment of the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and is confident of effective co-operation between the two sides in the future, according to the PM.

He lauded the EU’s support for respecting international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea (known in Việt Nam as the East Sea).

The Government leader thanked the EU for helping Việt Nam fulfil its mission as ASEAN Chair this year and wished for more assistance to Việt Nam as the country holds a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2020-21.

PM Phúc also expressed his gratitude to the bloc’s humanitarian aid worth 60,000 euros for Việt Nam to address drought and saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta as well as support to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aliberti said EU leaders always treasured and highly valued achievements in the EU-Việt Nam relationship. — VNS