Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. (Photo: VNA)

He made the statement while meeting with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EC Vice President, on the sidelines of the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid, Spain.

Mr. Minh asked the EU to push for the European Parliament’s approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).

Borrell said both sides have a huge potential to develop multi-faceted cooperation in politics, security, defence, economy, culture, and peacekeeping activities.

The two leaders underscored the need to maintain peace, stability, and the rule of law, and settle disputes via peaceful means in line with international law.

They pledged to continue enhancing coordination at multilateral forums like the UN, ASEM, and ASEAN, particularly in 2020 when Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chair and become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.