Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and EP Vice President Heidi Hautala (Source: VNA)

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PM Phuc said that the European Union is Vietnam’s leading partner and that the bilateral relations are developing well, reflected through the maintenance of high-level meetings, thereby helping boost mutual understanding and trust.

He expressed his belief that the visit to Vietnam by the EP Vice President will contribute to strengthening the relations between Vietnam and the EU in general and the two legislatures in particular.

Heidi Hautala informed her host that, during the visit, the EP working delegation will hold working sessions with Vietnam’s relevant offices and survey the enforcement of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).

Regarding the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), she affirmed that the EP will continue listening to Vietnam’s proposals in order to accelerate the ratification of the agreement.

This is a next-generation FTA, she stated, suggesting that both sides ensure firm and effective enforcement to achieve sustainable trade development.

The EU is willing to support Vietnam during the process, she added.

Appreciating the sentiments of his guest, PM Phuc said that Vietnam-EU relations hold much development potential and opportunities and, as such, the two sides should carry out specific measures, including stepping up all-level delegation exchanges and increasing the efficiency of cooperative channels concerning politics, diplomacy, economics, and development cooperation.

He voiced his hope to receive support from the EP and its Vice President to help accelerate the ratification of the EVFTA, affirming that the early enforcement of the agreement will create a new driving force and boost collaboration between the two sides, especially in economics.

Regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the PM said that, after receiving a "yellow card” warning from the European Commission, the entire political system of Vietnam has joined hands to take drastic measures to fight IUU fishing. He asked for the EP Vice President’s help in pushing the EC’s removal of the yellow card.

Regarding the VPA/FLEGT, PM Phuc said that the two sides officially signed the agreement during his working visit to the EU last October.

Vietnam’s policy is to develop the forestry sector sustainably, with the focus on developing timber processing for export and using materials legally.

He informed his guest that he had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the relevant offices to accelerate the completion of the documents to be submitted towards the ratification of the agreement in the first quarter of 2019.

Vietnam hopes to receive support from the EP and its Vice President towards an early ratification of the agreement so that it can serve as a legal foundation to ensure that Vietnam’s wood and timber products exported to the EU have official origin certificates, thus bringing about greater benefits for both sides.