Early signing of FTA between Vietnam and EFTA bloc

SGGP 06/17/2023 09:10

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.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Ambassador, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti. Photo: VIET CHUNG

Receiving Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue mentioned that the two sides now have the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Fair Energy Transition Partnership Agreement (JETP). Although the EVFTA is still in its early stages of implementation, statistics show the positive impact of the agreement on both sides. The National Assembly Chairman also said that Vietnam is in the process of implementing it to be able to soon ratify Convention 87 of the International Labor Organization and asked the EU to urge the remaining members to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that all commitments in the FTA will be seriously implemented by Vietnam. The National Assembly Chairman also asked the European Commission (EC) to soon remove the IUU yellow card based on a positive assessment of the substantial efforts that Vietnam has made in this field.

Assessing the importance of the Partnership Agreement for a Just Energy Transition for the future of EU-Vietnam relations, Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti said that Vietnam is the third country after South Africa and Indonesia to sign this agreement with international partners, thereby affirming the EU's trust in Vietnam and the EU's desire for a long-term, sustainable presence in Vietnam.

* At the reception for Ambassador Thomas Gass, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stated that one of the important contents in the Vietnam - Switzerland cooperation in the coming time is to promote negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association - EFTA (including 4 countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), in which Switzerland plays an important role. Commenting that Vietnam and Switzerland are two economies that do not compete directly, but bilateral trade turnover is still modest, with Swiss investment in Vietnam only reaching 1.9 billion USD, quite modest compared to the scale of over 440 billion USD of foreign investment in Vietnam, the National Assembly Chairman hoped that the two sides would actively discuss measures to increase trade and investment relations between the two countries.

* On the afternoon of June 16, at the Government headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Cuban Minister of Justice Oscar Manuel Slivera Martinez and a high-ranking delegation of the Cuban Ministry of Justice who are visiting and working in Vietnam.

Early signing of FTA between Vietnam and EFTA bloc photo 1

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Cuban Minister of Justice Manuel Slivera Martinez.

Photo: VNA

At the reception, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed the gratitude of the Party, State and people of Vietnam for Cuba's support and assistance; affirmed that Vietnam consistently wishes for the close, trustworthy, and exemplary brotherly solidarity and solidarity relationship between the two countries to become increasingly deeper. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also asked Cuba to pay attention to and create favorable conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies for Vietnamese legal entities and individuals in Cuba to stabilize their lives, production and business; pay attention to removing difficulties for Vietnamese enterprises investing in Cuba to maintain stability in bilateral economic, trade and investment relations; and prioritize creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Cuba.

Conveying the best wishes of Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cuban Minister of Justice Oscar Manuel Slivera Martinez affirmed that Cuba always attaches importance to the special, traditional, friendly and multi-faceted relationship with Vietnam; thanking the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their selfless, pure and generous support and assistance to Cuba...

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