Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Chairman of EP’s International Trade Committee Bernd Lange

Mr. Bernd Lange said the European Parliament will vote on the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in February, 2020. He said the EU is ready to support Vietnam in policy design to help boost the country’s growth and improve people’s lives. He said the EU wants to cooperate closely with Vietnam in multilateral forums, especially when Vietnam becomes ASEAN Chair in 2020 and Non-Permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021 tenure. Mr. Bernd Lange affirmed the EU’s support for Vietnam’s stance over the East Sea issue.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam praised the strategic economic significance of the EVFTA and EVIPA adding that he believed the EP and the Vietnamese NA will soon ratify the agreements to bring further benefits to peoples and enterprises of both sides. He valued the EU’s interest in Asia-Pacific and its support for freedom, security and safety of navigation in the East Sea wishing that the EU will play a greater role in the region.