Vietnam and the European Union (EU) will sign an agreement on the official conclusion of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) during a Vietnamese leader’s working trip to the EU headquarters next week.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung (L) and the Ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, Bruno Angelet.

The information was revealed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his reception for the Ambassador and head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, Bruno Angelet, in Hanoi on November 24.

He described the EU – Vietnam FTA, whose negotiations have been finalised in principle recently, as a milestone in promoting the two sides’ economic, trade and investment cooperation as well as their all-round partnership to a new height.

During the upcoming visit to the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Vietnamese side will also discuss major orientations for and measures enhancing bilateral ties with the EU leaders, he noted.

The PM highlighted the progress in the Vietnam – EU relations, saying Vietnam treasures her ties with the union and wants to work with the bloc for stronger and more comprehensive collaboration.

He also asked the EU to urge its remaining member nations to approve the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) between the two sides as soon as possible.

At the meeting, Bruno Angelet, who was earlier the Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam, shared the view on the two sides’ thriving affiliations and expressed his belief in their brighter future.

Vietnam is one of the leading ASEAN partners of the EU. Their cooperation will be reinforced beyond economics, trade and investment up into strategic fields of politics, diplomacy and security.

The EU shares the development goals and orientations of Vietnam, which has reaped substantial development attainments in the past decades.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian nation is still under reforms, and the EU needs to support this process, the diplomat added.

VNA