Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (left) meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Belgium, October 25, 2023. Photo: VGP

Tran reaffirmed Viet Nam attaches importance to the partnership and comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU) and spoke highly of the EU's fresh strategies and initiatives on strengthening cooperation with Asia-Pacific.

He expressed his wish that the EU and its member countries enhance financial and technical support for Viet Nam's efforts in climate change adaptation and energy transition.

Tran took the occasion to call on the EU member countries to soon ratify the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVFTA), fully implement the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in a bid to further boost bilateral trade and investment.

The Deputy Prime Minister also urged the EC to consider removal of the "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (left) meets with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen witness the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance and the European Investment Bank in Brussels, Belgium, October 25, 2023. Photo: VGP

EC President Ursula von der Leyen underscored the important role of Viet Nam in the EU's strategies and initiatives towards the region.

She welcomed the Southeast Asian nation's high-ranking delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to the first Global Gateway Forum as well as close cooperation in climate change between Viet Nam and the EU, especially in realizing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Ursula von der Leyen affirmed that the EC will continue giving priority to cooperation with Viet Nam in such domains like renewable energy, digital transformation, and green growth through the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy which was designed to reduce the worldwide investment gap and boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transports sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research system.

Later the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Ha and EC President Ursula von der Leyen withnessed the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Viet Nam's Ministry of Finance and the European Investment Bank.

The MoU aims to support the implementation of the JETP in Viet Nam, signifying a mutual commitment to put in place a multi-projects credit facility worth €500 million.

Once this credit facility is finalized and inked in the near term, it will establish a framework loan that will finance projects supporting decarbonization and energy transition in Viet Nam.