(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have signed a new EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Brussels, officially launching negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In a statement issued yesterday, Ashton highlighted that signing the new PCA will bring the EU-Vietnam relationship to a new height. Describing Vietnam as a dynamic economy and a central player of ASEAN, Ashton said that the EU considers Vietnam as a partner willing to take on increased responsibilities in the world arena.

Vietnam is the ASEAN’s third member, after Singapore and Malaysia, beginning FTA negotiations with the EU. After the news, we will have a report on “New development in the Vietnam-EU relationship”, which analyze PCA’s main contents and benefits.