Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen compared notes on the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) during their phone talks on July 29.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds phone talks with President of
the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (Photo:VGP) 

During the phone conversation, PM Phuc expressed his pleasure to have phone talks with the EC President at a particularly important time of the comprehensive cooperation partnership between Vietnam and EU when the EVFTA is set to come into effect on August 1, opening up great opportunities and prospects to take Vietnam-EU relations to new heights. This is of great significance as it marks the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - EU diplomatic relations (1990 - 2020).

Both sides agreed that along with the EU-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement (PCA), the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA) in crisis management activities of the EU, and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT), the signing and implementation of the EVFTA and EVIPA has turned Vietnam into a leading partner of the EU in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and one of the Asian-Pacific countries having extensive and intensive relations with the EU in terms of politics, economics, trade, development cooperation, environment, sustainable energy, and defence-security.

They pledged to continue working hand in hand to carry out effectively the EVFTA as well as fully tap its win-win benefits as a way to prompting trade liberalisation, cooperation and connectivity in the Asian-Pacific region, and recovering the regional and global economic growth that is greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the EU being the fourth largest trading partner, the second export market and the fifth investor of Vietnam, the Vietnamese government leader described the EVFTA as a golden opportunity for the two sides to enhance collaboration for mutual development.

To utilize the opportunities, Vietnam suggested the EC join hands to increase the implementation capacity and encourage EU member countries to soon ratify the EVIPA and remove the yellow car for Vietnamese aquatic products.

The EC President affirmed the EU’s recognition of great importance to cooperation with Vietnam in a multitude of fields and hailed Vietnam’s efforts in undertaking the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

She highlighted the EU’s vision about multilateral cooperation towards sustainable development, promoting ruled-based peace and security in the region and the world, and the EU’s desire for becoming involved actively in ASEAN-led mechanisms to expand the ASEAN-EU cooperative relations.

The official suggested both sides continuously share information and experience in COVID-19 response, support their citizens as well as facilitate and gradually resume travels between Vietnam and the EU.

She also showed her concern over the recent developments in the East Sea. 

The two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security and respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and ensuring freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

PM Phuc used the occasion to invite the EC President to visit Vietnam, and his invitation was graciously accepted.