Vietnam attaches importance to its strategic partnership with the EU, said Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh during his recent working sessions with leaders of the European Commission (EC) and Parliament (EP) as part of his trip to Belgium for the Europa Connectivity Forum held by the EC.

The European leaders at the working sessions include Vice President of the European Parliament (EP) Dimitrios Papadimoulis, European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, and Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade Bernd Lange.

A the meetings, the Vietnamese Party official showed his elation at the flourishing bilateral ties, including the signing of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). 

He urged the two sides work hand in hand to accelerate the EP’s ratification of the two agreements for the benefit of the people of Vietnam and EP member states.

Regarding regional and global issues, Binh and his hosts compared notes on recent violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, and he called on the EU to support Vietnam’s stance of settling the disputes by peaceful means without use of force or threat to use force in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The host leaders expressed their desire to foster ties with Vietnam and pledged to do their utmost to expedite the ratification of the two pacts.

The EU side urged Vietnam to consider adopting the International Labour Organisation’s several conventions.

Binh affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to global integration with a specific roadmap with a particular focus on refining domestic laws in line with international law and practices such as the ILO’s conventions No. 98, 105 and 87.

Concerning the East Sea issue, the host leaders voiced their support for Vietnam’s stance, stating that disputes should be settled via negotiations without use of force or threat to use force in line with international law, for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

Earlier on September 26, Binh also gave a keynote speech at the Europa Connectivity Forum.