NDO – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that Vietnam highly appreciates the EU's support in socio-economic development, contributing to promoting Vietnam's extensive international integration process, while also recommending EU proposal to continue maintaining ODA for Vietnam, focusing on areas of important significance in the process of sustainable development and international integration.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Vice President of the EC, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)
On July 30, at the Government Guest House, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed and held talks with the Vice President of the European Commission (EC), High Representative of the European Union (EU) on politics. foreign and security policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. After the talks, Minister Bui Thanh Son and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles met with news and press agencies.
At the press conference, Minister Bui Thanh Son and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles affirmed that the two sides had just had a very successful conversation in the spirit of frank, open, constructive exchange and mutual trust.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son respectfully thanked the EU High Representative for coming to Vietnam on behalf of the European Union to attend the National Funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and officially visit Vietnam, showing the importance of The EU and Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles personally towards General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnam.
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Scene of the talks between Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Vice President of the EC, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)
Vice President of the EC, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles expressed his deep condolences to the Vietnamese people on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and emphasized that General The Secretary has made an important contribution to strengthening Vietnam's role and position in the international arena and making an important contribution to promoting Vietnam's relations with the EU.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the very positive developments of Vietnam-EU relations, especially in politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, defense-security, development cooperation, and justice. , agriculture..., affirming that delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, especially at high levels, have been enhanced, contributing to increasing political trust and promoting cooperation in all fields.
Currently, the two sides are effectively implementing 4 cooperation agreements and 8 dialogue mechanisms. Vietnam is the first ASEAN country to have all pillars of political, economic, defense-security cooperation with the EU.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Vice President of the EC, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles met the press after the talks. (Photo: THUY NGUYEN)
The EU is the largest non-refundable aid provider and one of Vietnam's most important trade and investment partners. After nearly 4 years of implementation, the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has helped trade exchange between the two sides grow positively.
The EU is currently Vietnam's 4th largest trade partner with two-way turnover in 2023 reaching 58,5 billion USD, in the first 6 months of this year alone reaching 24,7 billion USD, an increase of 16% over the same period in 2023; is the 5th largest investor with total accumulated FDI in Vietnam of nearly 30 billion USD. Vietnam is the EU's 16th largest trading partner and the largest in ASEAN.
Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that Vietnam highly appreciates the EU's support in socio-economic development, contributing to promoting Vietnam's extensive international integration process.
In addition, the Minister suggested that the EU continue to maintain ODA for Vietnam through bilateral and multilateral cooperation channels and cooperation programs with the region, focusing on areas of importance to Vietnam. with Vietnam in the process of sustainable development and international integration such as: Strengthening public administration capacity, green, digital and circular economy, sustainable fisheries development; Continue to coordinate closely to effectively deploy EVFTA; soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports on the basis of recognizing Vietnam's efforts and achievements in IUU prevention and control; Encourage the remaining member countries to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to bring bilateral economic cooperation commensurate with the potential of both sides.
The Minister also asked the EU to provide maximum support in finance, technology and human resource training for Vietnam to effectively implement the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), including supporting Vietnam in establishing the Fair Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Establishing a carbon certificate market connected to the international market, implementing green hydrogen projects.
