VietNamNet Bridge – The European Union will assist Vietnam in developing its crisis management capacity in anti-piracy and maritime security, and in joining UN peacekeeping operations.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) meets with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy (Photo: VNA)

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton made the commitment at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Brussels, Belgium, on July 23.

She said the European External Action Service (EEAS) will work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam to organise reciprocal visits by both sides’ high-level delegations to discuss measures to foster bilateral relations.

The EU pledges to receive young Vietnamese apprentices in its organisations, Catherine Ashton said, revealing her planned trip to Vietnam this August.

FM Minh said Vietnam is looking forward to receiving the EU diplomat in Hanoi next month, which he hoped would bring fresh impetus to Vietnam-EU relations.

He thanked the EU and its members for committing EUR542 million in official development assistance to Vietnam in 2014 and increasing aid to the country in the 2014-2020, targeting poverty reduction, sustainable development, and community health.

Vietnam shows responsibility, activeness in ASEAN-EU ties

The successfully-closed 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20) in Brussels on July 24 has confirmed the active and responsible role of Vietnam as a coordinator of the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations when it co-chaired the event for the first time.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Belgium, Michael Mann, spokesman for the office of Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, said Vietnam plays an important role in connecting Asia and Europe.

He described the co-chair by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the event as a contribution to fastening ASEAN’s work together with the EU’s, which would help both sides learn from each other.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has asserted that since becoming the coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations in July 2012, Vietnam has made positive contributions to the relations.

In preparing for the AEMM-20, Vietnam has actively involved in building up meeting agenda, content and documents, Vinh stressed.

An agreement reached on elevating ASEAN-EU relations to strategic partnership reflected Vietnam’s coordinating role in the relations, the official affirmed.

Source: VOV