National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien (R) and  Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council Donald Kanak. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

At a reception in Hanoi on Tuesday for Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council Donald Kanak, the NA Vice Chairman hailed the council’s role in boosting ties between ASEAN and EU businesses, and Vietnamese and EU enterprises, in particular. He said two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU has grown steadily in recent years and both sides have also seen progress in culture, environment, climate change response, and administrative reform.

Mr. Hien urged the EU-ASEAN Business Council to support and encourage the European Parliament to ratify the EU-Vietnam Free trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.  

Mr. Kanak said EU firms are ready to support Vietnam in undertaking the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020.