(VOVworld) – Vietnam and the European Union have signed a Protocol to the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) in Brussels. 

Vietnam, EU sign Partnership Cooperation Agreement protocol. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnam delegation to the EU Pham Sanh Chau and Ambassador Stefano Sannion, Head of the Italian delegation to the EU signed the agreement on Wednesday.

Ambassador Sannion said the framework agreement is an important step to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relationship in a number of areas. He said that this will speed up negotiations on a Vietnam-EU free trade agreement, and said he hopes the free trade agreement will be signed in 2015. 

Ambassador Chau reiterated that the framework agreement will strengthen bilateral ties.  

The PCA demonstrates the EU’s commitment to maintaining its partnership with Vietnam and expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, the environment, energy, science and technology, state management, culture, education, and corruption and crime prevention. The agreement also enhances their multilateral legal system and global management mechanism to coordinate their response to regional and global challenges.