Vietnam, EU accelerate FTA negotiations

[Viet]

VOV) -Vietnam expects the European Union (EU) will soon ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and finalise negotiations on a free trade agreement (EVFTA) in the very near future.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the proposal during talks with European Commission (EC) Vice President and Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, in Hanoi on August 12.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (R) welcomes EC Vice President Catherine Ashton in Hanoi

Minh underscored the importance of an early ratification of the PCA and the signing of EVFTA, helping Vietnam’s market economy status to be recognised and laying a solid foundation for bilateral relations to develop strongly and substantially.

He noted the good relations between Vietnam and the EU in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment and development cooperation, and said the EU remains Vietnam’s largest export market and No.1 donor of non-refundable aid.

Both sides say once the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) is signed, it will help lift bilateral trade to a higher level

The Deputy PM spoke highly of EU members’ assistance for the socio-economic development in Vietnam, as well as the country’s international integration. He appreciated the EC’s EUR400 million commitment to Vietnam in the 2014-2020 period, up 30% compared to the 2007-2013 period.

Minh asked the EU to create the best possible conditions for enterprises from both sides to establish partnerships and strengthen cooperation in such areas as education, environmental technology, climate change, and national security and defence.

An ASEAN-EU co-ordinator, Vietnam supports the EU’s broader participation in regional issues, and is doing its best to lift the ASEAN-EU relationship to a higher level, he said.

For her part, Catherine Ashton emphasized that the EU has become Vietnam’s leading goods consumer, purchasing US$21 billion worth of Vietnamese products or 19% of the country’s total export revenue.

Since the PCA was signed in June 2012, the two sides have cooperated effectively in various fields, including the environment, climate change, science-technology, security, and crisis management, she said, adding that the future signing of the EVFTA is expected to help bilateral trade to prosper.

Deputy PM Minh and EC Vice President Ashton brief the media on the results of their talks in Hanoi on August 12

At present, EVFTA negotiations are achieving positive results, and both parties strive to sign the trade pact by the end of this year. The agreement will leave the door wide open for Vietnamese products to penetrate the lucrative EU market, she noted.

The EU official valued Vietnam’s increased role in ASEAN and encouraged the country to actively take part in international events, including the UN’s peace-keeping operations.

Ashton said the EU is proud of being a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. She also reiterated a fundamental principle of the Treaty which states that signatories must resolve differences by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force.

During their talks, both host and guest touched upon East Sea related issues, stressing that it is essential to settle territorial disputes through peaceful solutions in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam, EU accelerate FTA negotiations | VOV Online Newspaper




it is not a joke: communistic Vietnam will soon have more free trade agreements than any other capitalistic countries in the region.

 

[Edison Chen]

it is not a joke: communistic Vietnam will soon have more free trade agreements than any other capitalistic countries in the region.

So less communist elements will make you an developed country by western standard? Although I am not a communist, but I don't like people who despises communism, just to make them looks like "noble" and "rich". Actually most Vietnamese member here share the same view with you, anti-communist makes them feel more close to the western world, but actually they are far from that. The most ironic thing is that many EU countries are substantially socialist countries now. And you don't even finish the industrialization yet.

 

[Viet]

So less communist elements will make you an developed country by western standard? Although I am not a communist, but I don't like people who despises communism, just to make them looks like "noble" and "rich". Actually most Vietnamese member here share the same view with you, anti-communist makes them feel more close to the western world, but actually they are far from that. The most ironic thing is that many EU countries are substantially socialist countries now. And you don't even finish the industrialization yet.

relax my friend, it is all about increasing economic ties with Europe. It has nothing to do with communism or not.

 

[Aepsilons]

VOV) -Vietnam expects the European Union (EU) will soon ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and finalise negotiations on a free trade agreement (EVFTA) in the very near future.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the proposal during talks with European Commission (EC) Vice President and Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, in Hanoi on August 12.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (R) welcomes EC Vice President Catherine Ashton in Hanoi

Minh underscored the importance of an early ratification of the PCA and the signing of EVFTA, helping Vietnam’s market economy status to be recognised and laying a solid foundation for bilateral relations to develop strongly and substantially.

He noted the good relations between Vietnam and the EU in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment and development cooperation, and said the EU remains Vietnam’s largest export market and No.1 donor of non-refundable aid.

Both sides say once the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) is signed, it will help lift bilateral trade to a higher level

The Deputy PM spoke highly of EU members’ assistance for the socio-economic development in Vietnam, as well as the country’s international integration. He appreciated the EC’s EUR400 million commitment to Vietnam in the 2014-2020 period, up 30% compared to the 2007-2013 period.

Minh asked the EU to create the best possible conditions for enterprises from both sides to establish partnerships and strengthen cooperation in such areas as education, environmental technology, climate change, and national security and defence.

An ASEAN-EU co-ordinator, Vietnam supports the EU’s broader participation in regional issues, and is doing its best to lift the ASEAN-EU relationship to a higher level, he said.

For her part, Catherine Ashton emphasized that the EU has become Vietnam’s leading goods consumer, purchasing US$21 billion worth of Vietnamese products or 19% of the country’s total export revenue.

Since the PCA was signed in June 2012, the two sides have cooperated effectively in various fields, including the environment, climate change, science-technology, security, and crisis management, she said, adding that the future signing of the EVFTA is expected to help bilateral trade to prosper.

Deputy PM Minh and EC Vice President Ashton brief the media on the results of their talks in Hanoi on August 12

At present, EVFTA negotiations are achieving positive results, and both parties strive to sign the trade pact by the end of this year. The agreement will leave the door wide open for Vietnamese products to penetrate the lucrative EU market, she noted.

The EU official valued Vietnam’s increased role in ASEAN and encouraged the country to actively take part in international events, including the UN’s peace-keeping operations.

Ashton said the EU is proud of being a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia. She also reiterated a fundamental principle of the Treaty which states that signatories must resolve differences by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force.

During their talks, both host and guest touched upon East Sea related issues, stressing that it is essential to settle territorial disputes through peaceful solutions in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam, EU accelerate FTA negotiations | VOV Online Newspaper


it is not a joke: communistic Vietnam will soon have more free trade agreements than any other capitalistic countries in the region.

Well done, Viet Nam!