EC President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso

(VOVworld)- The President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso began an official visit to Vietnam on Monday at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. This is Mr. Barroso’s second visit to Vietnam as EC President and is aimed at boosting the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the EU. Mr. Barroso’s visit takes place after the two signed the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement marking a new milestone in the development of bilateral ties over the past 20 years and creating a legal basis for further ties. The two have concluded 8 rounds of EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement negotiations with positive results and are determined to conclude negotiations by October. Vietnam and the EU are exerting efforts to help Vietnam achieve the recognition of market status.