Vietnam - EU relationship steps into new cooperative period

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam Mr Bruno Angelet stressed that in recent years, the EU - Vietnam relationship had seen deep and wide development in all areas, including politics, economics, security, defence and culture. The support of EU member countries and agencies has been seen in diverse areas across Vietnamese cities and provinces, from investment, trade, public administration to healthcare, education, judicial issues and agriculture.  

According to Ambassador, the EU lays its expectations to final steps for the signing of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) by late this year, which he said would not only help increase the scale and quality of the Vietnamese economy, but also help Vietnam become a gateway and centre of production for EU companies to ASEAN.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh agreed that the Vietnam - EU relationship had continuously been expanded and become more and more effective. The EU, in a comprehensive cooperation partnership with Vietnam, is both a leading development assistance provider and the second largest export market of Vietnam.

“Vietnam hopes the EVFTA will be promptly signed,” he said. “It will open up new breakthroughs that will bring the bilateral relationship into a new period, delivering benefits to both sides,” said Minister Tuan Anh./.