(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with 20 Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires of the European Union (EU) and EU member states in Hanoi on Thursday, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year of the Horse.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with 20 Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires of the European Union (EU) and EU member states in Hanoi on March 5. Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV |
The meeting took place at a time when Vietnam just successfully held the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnam and the EU officially upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on January 29.
PM Chinh proposed both sides continue to boost cooperation in a mutually beneficial spirit, effectively implement the EVFTA, promote open and balanced trade, facilitate market access, and ensure the legitimate interests of businesses of both sides.
The PM also requested the EU Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires to encourage the remaining member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) soon, while strengthening cooperation in the fields of green transition, digital transformation, transport infrastructure, science and technology, and innovation.
Vietnam will continue to facilitate visa procedures for citizens of other countries, including the EU, and requested the EU to simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens and grant visa exemptions for Vietnamese diplomatic and official passports.
 Representatives of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam and Ambassadors of EU member states to Vietnam attend the reception. Photo: Lai Hoa/VOV |
Regarding the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, he said that Vietnam is aggressively implementing measures to improve the legal framework, control the origin of seafood, monitor fishing vessels, and strictly handle violations. Vietnam is ready to cooperate closely with the inspection team from the European Commission (EC) and requested EU countries to acknowledge Vietnam's efforts, and support the EC's early lifting of the IUU "yellow card," while also supporting Vietnam's development of a modern and sustainable fisheries sector.
The Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires said they want to deepen the partnership with Vietnam in all areas and committed to coordinating the effective implementation of the EVFTA and boosting cooperation in investment, science and technology, and green growth, which are strengths of the EU. EU countries welcomed Vietnam's determination and acknowledged its efforts in combating IUU fishing and expressed their hope that both sides will continue to cooperate in developing sustainable fisheries.