Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh on September 18 met with European Commission (EC) Vice President Valdis Dombrovski. At the meeting, the two sides appraised the fine developments of the relations between Viet Nam and the EC, especially in economics, ..

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh on September 18 met with European Commission (EC) Vice President Valdis Dombrovski.

At the meeting, the two sides appraised the fine developments of the relations between Viet Nam and the EC, especially in economics, trade, investment, culture and education.

He expected that the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will be inked by the end of this year.

Deputy PM Ninh suggested the EC recognize Viet Nam as market economy when the EVFTA is signed.

As one of the top partners of Viet Nam, the EU is expected to offer more assistance for Viet Nam’s human resource and high-tech development and climate change adaptation.

EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovski revealed that the two sides are completing technical factors for recognition of Viet Nam as market economy.

The talks process of the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) has helped promote mutual understanding, he said, adding that the EC is pushing the ratification of the PAC by 2016. Currently, 23 out of 26 nations in the EU ratified the agreement.

The EU will support nations in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) to develop and narrow the development gap with other countries in the region. The EU has financed €2 billion for GMS nations, including Viet Nam.

The EC Vice President also lauded the role and contributions of Viet Nam in ASEAN and shared concerns about activities which aim at changing the status quo of islands in the East Sea. He affirmed that disputes on the East Sea must be addressed through peaceful measures in accordance with the international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The guaranty of navigation and aviation safety on the East Sea is the common benefit of nations in both Asia and Europe, he affirmed.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM consented with the EC Vice President’s statements on the East Sea, adding that Viet Nam highly values the voice and role of the EU in maintaining peace and stability in the world in general and Southeast Asia in particular.

He advocated the EU’s participation in East Asia Summit (EAS) in a bid to enhance cooperation between the two regions./.