National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue receives Ambassador, Head of EU Delegation and Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam

The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that Vietnam highly values ​​and wishes to promote relations with the European Union - a leading important partner in Vietnam's foreign policy.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti. (Source: VNA)

On the afternoon of June 16, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Ambassador, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti and Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass.

Receiving Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation Giorgio Aliberti, the National Assembly Chairman highly appreciated the Ambassador's contributions and efforts in strengthening the Vietnam-EU relationship in general and between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the European Parliament (EP) in particular. The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that Vietnam highly values ​​and wishes to promote relations with the European Union - a leading important partner in Vietnam's foreign policy.

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti thanked the National Assembly Chairman for taking the time to meet him, and said that with good feelings before and during his four years working in Vietnam, he will continue to do his best to consolidate and strengthen the bilateral relationship regardless of his position.

The Ambassador highly appreciated the role of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in promoting EU-Vietnam relations, especially the relationship between the European Parliament and the Vietnamese National Assembly which has been significantly enhanced.

Over the past four years, the two sides have signed the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Fair Energy Transition Partnership Agreement (JETP). The Ambassador believes that the EVFTA is an important channel, beyond the mere concept of trade, and both sides need to maximize future benefits to promote cooperation.

Agreeing with the Ambassador's assessment, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that although the EVFTA is still in its early stages of implementation, the figures show the positive impact of the agreement on both sides, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period, in the context of the world's broken supply chains.

In the coming time, the two sides need to continue to implement more effectively and fully to maximize the benefits of EVFTA. Accordingly, Vietnam is in the process of implementing to be able to soon ratify ILO Convention 87. The EU will urge the remaining members to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The National Assembly Chairman said that the commitments in EVFTA will be seriously implemented by Vietnam with the view that the commitments in the Agreement are for Vietnam, for the rapid and sustainable development of Vietnam.

The National Assembly Chairman and the Ambassador agreed that parliamentary cooperation is an important channel that needs to be promoted to contribute to the effectiveness of cooperation between the EU and Vietnam. In the coming time, the two sides will actively exchange delegations at all levels and people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding.

Assessing the Fair Energy Transition Partnership Agreement as important for the future of EU-Vietnam relations, the Ambassador said that Vietnam is the third country after South Africa and Indonesia to sign this agreement with international partners. Thereby, it affirms the EU's trust in Vietnam, wanting a long-term and sustainable presence in Vietnam.

At the meeting, the National Assembly Chairman recalled that during the difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam received vaccine support from the EU, EU member countries and international friends, thereby contributing to widespread vaccination coverage, helping to control Covid-19 soon. The National Assembly Chairman sincerely thanked the sincere and effective support of the EU and member countries, including the contribution of Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti.

The National Assembly Chairman welcomed the EU's many strategies and initiatives to strengthen cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region; assessed that the EU's cooperation priorities are consistent with Vietnam's socio-economic development orientations and sustainable development; affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support the enhancement of the EU's presence in the region, coordinate the implementation of the ASEAN-EU Action Plan for the 2023-2027 period, help the EU connect with the ASEAN market and promote negotiations on the ASEAN-EU FTA.

The National Assembly Chairman proposed that the European Commission (EC) soon remove the IUU Yellow Card based on its positive assessment of the substantial efforts that Vietnam has made in this field.

Through Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent an invitation to EU and EP leaders to soon pay an official visit to Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass. (Source: VNA)

Receiving Swiss Ambassador Thomas Gass, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated the upcoming official visit to Vietnam by the President of the Swiss House of Representatives on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; affirming that for Vietnam, Switzerland is always an important and trustworthy partner. Switzerland is also home to many United Nations agencies, holding a very important position in the world.

The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that an important content in the upcoming talks between the two leaders of the two countries' legislative bodies is to promote negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc (including 4 countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), in which Switzerland plays an important role in the bloc.

The National Assembly Chairman shared that when he was Deputy Prime Minister, he visited Switzerland twice, attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos; met with the President and many large Swiss enterprises; and promoted negotiations on this agreement many times. Completing the signing will be of great significance in the context of the world's broken supply chains, stagnation due to Covid-19 and conflicts.

The National Assembly Chairman hopes that the two sides will discuss solutions to increase trade and investment in the context of the two countries' economies not competing but complementing each other. Especially in the context of bilateral trade turnover and investment by Swiss enterprises in Vietnam being modest compared to the potential of the two sides.

The National Assembly Chairman hopes that Ambassador Thomas Gass will have more discussions with the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee to develop an agenda, especially the talks between the two leaders of the two countries' legislatures, to achieve the best results.

Ambassador Thomas Gass expressed his gratitude for the close and effective coordination of the staff of the Vietnamese National Assembly Office in recent times, especially in preparing for the official visit to Vietnam of the President of the Swiss House of Representatives.

Affirming that this is a particularly important visit in the context of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Ambassador expressed his belief that the visit, exchanges and meetings between the leaders of the two countries' legislative bodies will bring about good results.

At the meeting, the Swiss Ambassador shared his experiences after 5 months of taking up his duties in Vietnam, including visiting a number of localities where Swiss businesses are headquartered, and was pleased to see the increasingly clear presence of Swiss businesses and technology. Thereby affirming the close relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland in the economic field.

Ambassador Thomas Gass also expressed his gratitude for the great support he received from the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Parliamentarians Group; and expressed his belief that the visit of the President of the Swiss House of Representatives to Vietnam will promote the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA bloc.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chu-tich-quoc-hoi-vuong-dinh-hue-tiep-dai-su-truong-phai-doan-eu-va-dai-su-thuy-sy-tai-viet-nam-231229.html