PM’s trip to elevate Việt Nam – EU to new height: diplomat

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyễn Văn Thảo. — VNA/VNS Photo Hương Giang

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s trip to attend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit and visit Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium is expected to promote and lift the Việt Nam-EU cooperation to a new height, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyễn Văn Thảo.

In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Thảo said the tour is to continue affirming Việt Nam's foreign policy of being an active and responsible member of the international community.

According to the diplomat, the upcoming trip, from December 9 to 15, along with recent effective high-level external activities by the Party and State leaders, shows that Việt Nam is a responsible member that is willing to have initiatives and solutions to contribute practically and effectively to the stability and development in the region and the world.

Leaders of the EU and a number of its member countries are looking forward to meeting the Vietnamese PM in order to discuss and share global and regional issues of common concern, including promoting global trade and investment, global economic connections, climate change, energy and food security, marine economic development, sustainable development, and green and digital economy.

The EU considers Việt Nam an important partner of the region, which has achieved success in economic development as well as controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. With many initiatives, Việt Nam is expected to make more active contributions in the future.

These reaffirm the increasing prestige and position of Việt Nam in the international arena, Thảo noted.

Việt Nam is one of four Asian countries that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU. In the last two years when the COVID-19 pandemic raged, two-way trade between Việt Nam and the EU has still increased. Therefore, the EU is looking forward to further promoting trade cooperation with Việt Nam in order to address the disruption of the global supply chain in recent times.

In addition, climate change is a high priority for the EU and the union also highly valued Việt Nam's commitment at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow of the UK last year, and the Southeast Asian nation's action plan and great determination in this field.

PM Chính and EU leaders will discuss issues related to food security, energy security, marine economy and circular economy, which Việt Nam is very interested in, while the EU has experience and strengths.

In Luxembourg, Việt Nam wants to promote cooperation in financial market development because the country boasts extensive experience in the financial sector, Thảo said.

Việt Nam will focus on promoting cooperation in agriculture and hi-tech development with Belgium as it has advantages in farm produce export and is also a leading hi-tech centre in Europe.

Belgium also boasts strengths in logistics, seaport and renewable energy. So the country is very eager to cooperate with Việt Nam in these sectors, Thảo said.

The embassy will organise various activities to connect Vietnamese and Belgian firms, promoting cooperation opportunities towards setting up partnerships, he went on.

As part of the trip, PM Chính will lead a high-ranking delegation of Việt Nam to attend a summit commemorating the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU relations in Brussels on December 14.