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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission (EC) Vice-President Josep Borrell. — Photo provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
BRUSSELS – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met several times with EU representatives and foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium, on February 1 and 2 to strengthen bilateral cooperation and coordination in regional and international mechanisms. We discussed specific issues regarding.
In a meeting with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (EC), Minister Son reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to strengthen and deepen comprehensive cooperation with the EU. emphasized.
The minister suggested that the two countries strengthen high-level exchanges and fully implement existing cooperation mechanisms. He said the remaining 10 EU member states will soon complete the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the “yellow card” warning the EC has imposed on Vietnamese seafood products for illegal and non-reporting will soon be lifted. I expected it to. and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
He also supported the expansion of Vietnam-EU cooperation projects in potential areas such as climate change response and energy transition, especially through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) framework and the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy. .
Mr. Borrell affirmed Vietnam’s importance as an EU partner in the region and pledged to facilitate the completion of ratification of EVIPA and create favorable conditions to attract European investments flowing into Vietnam. Regarding the issue of IUU fishing, he acknowledged Vietnam’s active efforts and expressed hope that the EC inspection mission scheduled in the country would yield fruitful results.
Both sides agreed to work together to address regional and global issues, aiming for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Minister Son met with Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariya Gabriel and expressed that Bulgaria supports the early lifting of the IUU yellow card for Vietnamese seafood products by the EC and cooperates with Vietnam in priority areas such as energy transition and green development. proposed.
Both sides made sufficient preparations for future high-level exchange activities, resumed meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic and Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation, and discussed potential areas such as education and training, labor, agriculture, and healthcare. They agreed to explore opportunities to expand their collaboration. health and tourism.
Mr. Song met with his Polish counterpart Mr. Radosław Sikorski, and both sides reaffirmed the long-standing traditional friendship between the two countries and the importance of multifaceted cooperation. Vietnam FM proposed that Poland promptly ratify EVIPA in 2024, support the lifting of the yellow card imposed on Vietnam by the EC, and strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in education and cultural exchanges.
Mr. Sikorski highly valued the active contribution of the Vietnamese community in Poland, and continued to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live stably, long-term and legally, contributing to the strengthening of friendly relations between the peoples of the two countries. I promised to do it.
The FM stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and peacefully resolving disputes and disputes in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
In separate talks, Vietnamese diplomat and Spanish diplomat José Manuel Álvarez Bueno emphasized the importance of Vietnam-Spain strategic partnership, promoting bilateral trade and investment relations, and We agreed to effectively implement the EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and expand cooperation in potential areas such as infrastructure construction, digital transformation, education and training.
The Spanish FM expressed his desire to visit Vietnam this year to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and proposed to explore opportunities for bilateral engagement in high-speed railway construction.
During the meeting, Song and Greek FM Giorgos Gerapetritis agreed that both sides should continue to implement measures to further promote bilateral relations, especially in economic and trade.
The Vietnamese Minister proposed facilitating the conclusion of cooperation agreements on shipping, labor and double taxation avoidance, and expanding cooperation to new areas, including digital transformation and green growth.
The two Ministers also discussed mutual international and regional concerns and agreed to work closely together, comply with international law and the United Nations Charter, and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of maritime navigation and overflight. and confirmed their commitment to peacefully resolving disputes based on the agreement. international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS);
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. — VNA/VNS Photo |
In a meeting with Finnish FM Elina Valtonen, Son said Finland’s approval of EVIPA and implementation of the EVFTA will open new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, particularly in agriculture, high technology, renewable energy and green growth. He suggested that European countries support Vietnam in addressing the IUU yellow card issue and developing sustainable fisheries.
Valtonen said high technology is a potential area for bilateral cooperation and hopes that Vietnam will support Finland in strengthening ties with ASEAN, especially regarding joining the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). He said that
Vietnam FM also met with EU Commissioner for International Partnership Jutta Ulpilainen, who said that Vietnam is the only partner that has established five major cooperation frameworks with the EU in politics, defence, trade, investment and energy. . He expressed the hope that both sides will continue to effectively implement the signed agreements and deepen relations towards practical results. —VNS