EU boosts trade ties with Vietnam
(VOV) - The European Union wants to strengthen economic and political cooperation with Vietnam, says Antonio Tajani, EC Vice-President responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship.
While receiving visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Brussels on September 25, Tajani acknowledged the growing ties between the EU and Vietnam, especially in economics, trade and investment.
He revealed he will lead an EU business delegation to Vietnam in November 2013 to explore opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure construction, information technology, green technology, automation, and tourism.
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| EC Vice President Antonio Tajani (R) and Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai agreed to increase EU-Vietnam trade ties during a meeting in Brussels on September 25 (Photo:VGP) |
The EU is Vietnam’s second biggest trade partner and biggest export market. Twenty-two out of 27 EU members have invested in 1,299 projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capitalisation of more than US$17 billion.
For his part, Hai reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of considering the EU one of its leading partners. He said he hopes Tajani’s upcoming visit will fuel economic-trade ties between the two sides.
Both host and guest discussed the ratification of the signed Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), laying a legal foundation for boosting bilateral cooperation and signing a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (FTA).
Hai proposed the EC prioritise FTA negotiations with Vietnam to be concluded in 2014 and recognise Vietnam’s full market economy status as soon as possible.
He appreciated the EU and its members’ commitment to providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam for the 2014-2020 period and offering the generalised system of preferences (GSP) to Vietnamese products as of January 1, 2014.