On July 30, in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed and held talks with Vice President of the European Commission (EC) and High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from July 29 to 31.

At the joint press conference held after the talks, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that during the talks, the representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the High Representative on behalf of the EU for attending the State funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and for his official visit to Vietnam, demonstrating the EU's respect for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as well as Vietnam.

Minister Bui Thanh Son said that both sides were pleased with the very positive developments between Vietnam and the EU in various fields. Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that the EU continue to maintain ODA cooperation for Vietnam through bilateral and multilateral channels, and the EU's cooperation programs with the region, focusing on areas that are important to Vietnam's development process, such as strengthening public governance capacity, green economy, digital economy and circular economy, sustainable fisheries development, and continuing to closely coordinate in effectively implementing the Free Trade Agreement between the two sides.

During the talks, Minister Bui Thanh Son also proposed that the EU soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports, on the basis of acknowledging Vietnam's achievements and efforts in preventing IUU; urge the remaining member countries to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), to develop bilateral economic cooperation commensurate with the potential of both sides; provide maximum financial and technological support, human resource training, so that Vietnam can effectively implement the agreement within the framework of the partnership for a fair energy transition...

During the talks, the two sides also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the situation in the East Sea. Vietnam highly appreciates the EU's active contribution to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, ensuring freedom of navigation, aviation and maritime order, based on international law in the East Sea region, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

At the press conference, Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of the EU, the Southeast Asian country with the most agreements with the EU. Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles said that he discussed with Minister Bui Thanh Son the issue of fully implementing the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), implementing Vietnam's commitment to become a zero net emission country by 2050.

Regarding the East Sea region in particular, according to Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU has commercial interests in this sea area when up to 38% of EU imports and 22% of EU exports pass through the area. Therefore, any incident or tension occurring in this area can directly affect the EU's economic and trade interests here. The EU representative also assessed Vietnam as an important partner of the EU in implementing the Indo-Pacific strategy, and expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides.

Source: Sai Gon Giai Phong Online Newspaper