Vietnam, EU push for ratification of deal to combat illegal logging
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam and the European Union are working to soon ratify the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).
 Vietnamese and EP delegates discuss in Hanoi on January 7, 2018, the ratification of VPA/FLEGT. |
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong told Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala in Hanoi on Monday that the signing of the agreement last October offers a chance for the Southeast Asian nation to restructure the forestry sector towards a transparent production chain, from materials to processing and trading.
“The ratification of the agreement will create a legal tool for sustainable development. Vietnam will build an action plan for the government, the business community, and people to effectively implement the deal,” said Minister Cuong.
Vice President Hautala said EU consumers are paying greater attention to the origin of products, adding the agreement is an important step by the EU towards building a broader strategy to intensify biodiversity and sustainable development in Asia, as well as fighting illegal timber exploitation and trading.
The same day, Ms. Hautala met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan who said that the EU is one of Vietnam’s leading partners. Prime Minister Phuc noted that Vietnam considers cooperation between the two parliaments a key pillar in bilateral ties. The EU is Vietnam’s 4th largest trade partner, 5th largest investor, and 2nd largest export market, National Assembly Chairwoman Ngan said.