Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the European Union (EU) is a significant event to bring the EU-Vietnam mutually-beneficial cooperation and friendship to new heights.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The remarks were made by the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council during their talks with Party General Secretary Trong on January 17, in Brussels, Belgium - the first destination in Trong’s European tour.

Trong told the two EU senior officials that Vietnam treasures the EU’s role and position and wants to develop a long-term, stable and all-faceted relationship with the union.

In his talks with the Vietnamese leader, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said his commission attaches importance to increasing cooperation with Vietnam, a country with a dynamic growth and a greater role in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Party leader Trong affirmed that Vietnam sees the EU as a top partner and prioritises the bloc in its external policy.

He praised the role of the commission, especially its president, in developing Vietnam-EU relations, adding that Vietnam wishes to continue receiving effective support and cooperation from the union.

The EU pledged to increase financial assistance to Vietnam in the 2014-2020 period, strengthen cooperation in education-training and culture, and expand ties to such potential fields as economic structure development, support industry, high technology and green development.

It is willing to provide technical assistance to Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization.

The two sides agreed that the signing of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the first negotiation round for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) are practical, important steps for Vietnam and EU member countries to establish closer political and economic ties and all-sided cooperation and enjoy an equal partnership.

They reached a consensus on a host of measures to enhance the EU-Vietnam ties in the coming time that will see increasing the exchange of high-level visits, speeding up PCA ratification and FTA negotiations, and establishing a foreign deputy ministerial-level political consultation mechanism.

The two sides agreed to soon implement cooperative programmes to prevent and fight terrorism and trans-national organised crimes as agreed in the Vietnam-EU PCA, and further increase cultural exchanges to promote mutual understanding of the two sides’ people.

Trong and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy sought ways and orientations to further elevate the EU-Vietnam relations.

The European Council President lauded Vietnam’s role and position as well as its renewal policy and important achievements in maintaining an economic growth, reducing poverty.

He expressed his wishes to cement and further the friendship and cooperation between the EU and Vietnam.

For his part, Party leader Trong hailed the EU’s maintenance of ODA provision for Vietnam in the 2014-2020 period.

Trong said he expects the EU to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economic status and facilitate long-term investments and business activities.

Trong assured that in the capacity as the coordinating country for ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam will work with and support the EU in boosting its ties with the association in all fields to meet both sides’ interests.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he said Vietnam highly values the EU’s constructive contributions to safeguarding maritime security and safety and maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea.  

The two EU officials said the EU supports efforts to build a Southeast Asian region of peace, stability, cooperation and friendship as well as backs the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law and the early establishment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Party leader meets Belgian Crown Prince

Vietnam attaches importance to increasing all-sided cooperation with Belgium, a country that plays a vital role in the European Union (EU).

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is on an official visit to Belgium and the EU, made the affirmation at his meeting with Belgian Crown Prince Philippe in Brussels on January 17.

Trong highly valued the role of the Belgian Royal in politics and thanked the Crown Prince for his support for and cooperation with Vietnam over the past years.

Philippe said he was impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and its people’s friendliness and hospitality during his visits to the country.

Both sides said that they were delighted with positive and diverse developments in the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.

They agreed to maintain high-ranking visits and all-level delegation exchanges, work closely to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2013, and strengthen trade exchange and investment in the fields that Belgium is successful, including logistic services, seaport development, transport, green technology, space technology, heavy industry and healthcare.

The two sides also stressed that education and training cooperation is a spotlighted in bilateral relations with priority given to information technology, biological technology, geology and the environment.

VNN/VNA/VOV