Speaking at a high-level roundtable with leading European and Belgian businesses on Thursday, during his official visit to the European Union and Belgium, Mr Lam said the time had come to raise the quality of economic cooperation, moving beyond expanding trade and investment to strengthening technological capacity, development standards, competitiveness and the role of businesses from both sides in global value chains.
Vietnam seeks to make better use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), while promoting the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), to provide a more favorable legal framework for long-term, stable and sustainable investment, said Mr. Lam.
The Vietnamese leader outlined three priorities: developing strategic infrastructure, logistics, seaports, clean energy and the circular economy; advancing high technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and high-tech agriculture; and upgrading trade into high-standard, sustainable and responsible value chains.
He said the EVFTA had improved market access for goods from both sides, but the next phase of cooperation should deepen links in capital, technology, business, standards and supply chains.
To turn these priorities into reality, Mr. Lam said Vietnam would continue to attract high-quality foreign investment selectively.
"Vietnam aims to selectively attract high-quality, high-tech and environmentally friendly foreign direct investment projects that generate high added value and have strong spillover effects. These projects should be linked to technology transfer, human resource development and stronger connections with domestic businesses. The Vietnamese Government also pledges to work alongside investors, listen to their concerns and address obstacles, while creating a transparent, stable and favorable investment environment so international investors can commit to Vietnam for the long term and contribute to its rapid and sustainable development," said the Vietnamese top leader.
At the roundtable, Party and State leader To Lam and other delegates witnessed the exchange of several cooperation agreements covering education and training, industrial development, energy efficiency, aviation, charitable initiatives and tourism.
The agreements signed at the ceremeny include:
+ An education and training arrangement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and the European Union;
+ A cooperation agreement between the Hanoi People’s Committee and, Aquitara Fund and 512 Finance to study and propose investment in an eco-industrial and high-tech park in Ha Bang Industrial Park;
+ An agreement between Vietnam National Chemical Group and Air Liquide to improve energy efficiency, industrial safety and energy transition.
+ An agreement between Vietnam Airlines and APG Inc. on sustainable market development and brand promotion;
+ An agreement between EuroCham Vietnam and Aquitara Fund on the An Vui Mart program under the Aquitara Charity Fund’s EuroCham Give Back to Vietnam initiative;
+ An agreement between Vietravel and international tourism group HiSEAS on strategic cooperation and tourism product development.
