The meeting between the ASEAN Committee in Belgium (ABC) and European Commission Vice President and High Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovski, June 6, Brussels. (Photo: VNA)

Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade, made this statement at a meeting on Tuesday held with the ASEAN Brussels Committee (ABC). Also in attendance was Vu Thu Thuy, deputy ambassador of Vietnam in Belgium, who represented the Vietnamese Delegation.

Dombrovskis noted that the 10-member grouping is the EU’s third biggest trade partner, and vice versa, and the two sides boast substantial potential and advantages to expand their cooperation, especially in economy, trade and investment.
Apart from trade, the EU wishes to partner with ASEAN in other fields like green transition, digital transformation and sustainable supply chain. The EU will increase its investment in Vietnam, particularly in significant such areas as just energy transition, and sustainable development, he said

Thuy therefore suggested that both sides continue to closely co-ordinate, effectively implement existing agreements, and expand ties to other promising fields such as the circular economy, green energy, smart agriculture, and digital economy.

This should be done whilst dealing with difficulties and challenges on the basis of taking into account characteristics and development level of each party, in line with the spirit of co-operation for the cause of mutual benefit, she said.

The Vietnamese diplomat also called on the EU to increase its high-quality investment in Vietnam, and help the country in the transfer of cutting-edge technologies, and capacity improvement.