Highlights of PM Dung’s European tour
VGP – PM Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Ha Noi on October 19, ending his tour to Belgium, the European Union, Germany and Italy where he attended the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.
During his official visit to Belgium, PM Dung and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel agreed to enhance trade cooperation by creating favorable conditions for the two nations’ businesses to promote prioritized areas such as seaports, logistics, transportation, green technology, high technology, aviation and space.
They also exchanged issues in terms of cooperation and security in the Asia-Pacific, highlighting the importance of marine peace, stability, security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, dealing with conflicts with peaceful measures and prevent the use of forces in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, working towards an early conclusion of a Code of Conduct.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of an Agreement on Satellite on observing natural resources and calamity and a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of Hai Phong Port.
On the occasion, PM Dung also met with representatives from Vietnamese and Belgian leading businesses, creating opportunities for bilateral investment and trade.
Answering Belgian businessmen about Viet Nam’s priorities in international integration and market opening, PM Dung stressed that after joining the World Trade Organization and eight FTAs, Viet Nam is negotiating for other six FTAs, including the Viet Nam–EU FTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying that the country has opened the door in all fields to foreign businesses as committed.
VN, EU vow to conclude FTA talks soon
PM Dung and EC President Manuel Barroso have agreed that the conclusion of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will give a strong boost to Viet Nam's integration into the global economy.
PM Dung said that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the EVFTA will be important political and economic pillars for the advancement of the relations between Viet Nam and the EU.
For this reason PM Dung and the President Barroso signed the political agreement which consolidates the progress of the FTA talks already made and engages both parties in facilitating the signing of the agreement as soon as possible.
Exchanging views on regional and international issues of common concern, both PM Dung and President Barroso underlined the necessity of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
The EC President restated the EU’s stance of advocating the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The EU called on relevant parties to avoid unilateral actions that threaten peace and stability in the region; fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and work towards early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
On the occasion, the EC committed to providing €400 million in assistance for Viet Nam for the 2014-2020 period.
Advancing VN-Germany relations
During his talks with PM Dung, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country attaches importance to the relationship with Viet Nam – a dynamic country with rising position in the region and the world.
The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the fine developments of the strategic partnership established during the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s official visit to Viet Nam in 2011.
They also noted with pleasure that the bilateral economic ties have been advanced in various aspects. Germany has been the biggest European trade partner of Viet Nam with the two-way trade volume standing at US$7 billion last year.
Both sides agreed to accelerate the exchange of delegations at all levels in a bid to give an impetus for the bilateral all-round cooperation; coordinate closely in organizing practical activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015; beef up the progress of joint projects, including the construction of the Metro Line No.2 in Ho Chi Minh City; and create favorable conditions for investment inflows in respective countries.
Regarding the regional and international issues of common concern, the two PMs agreed to foster mutual support and cooperation at multilateral forums and international organizations like the UN and ASEM.
Germany backs early conclusion of the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement talks and recognition of Viet Nam’s market economy status, welcoming the signing of the Joint Statement on direction of concluding EVFTA negotiations between PM Dung and EC President Manuel Barroso.
For the East Sea issue, PM Merkel asserted that Germany advocates Viet Nam’s stance of settling disputes through peaceful measures, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), regarding it as an effective method to resolve divergences.
As part of his official visit to Germany, PM also Dung delivered his remarks on challenges to peace, security and development in the Asia-Pacific and the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership within the Asia-Europe overall relations at the Körber Foundation on October 15.
An active member of ASEM
In his speech at the 10th ASEM Summit, the Vietnamese Government leader said that within more than one decade of the 21st century, human beings have faced extremely severe global challenges, including the most serious economic-financial crisis in over 100 years, the earthquake-tsunami calamity in Japan, Haiyan super typhoon in the Philippines, and now the deadly Ebora virus in Africa.
These challenges have seriously impacted on the world’s politics, socio-economy and security, and hindered efforts in maintaining peace, stability, economic recovery and residents’ life, he said.
Therefore, he noted that the current top priorities are to complete the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and build a post-2015 development agenda, and accelerate new global agreements on climate at the Paris Conference and on natural disaster mitigation cooperation at the Sendai Conference.
ASEM should have a global-level development vision and an inter-sectoral, innovative and creative approach to food, water and energy security in the face of more complex and unpredictable climate change, the PM stressed.
It also needs to step up joint efforts to reduce disaster risks and promote post-calamity recovery as the two continents are now hardest hit by natural disasters like super typhoons, sea level rises, droughts and floods, he added, citing that 70 percent of global disasters hit the Asia-Pacific region and two thirds of victims are living in Asia.
The Vietnamese leader urged ASEM to effectively coordinate activities and initiatives within the framework of the forum and other mechanisms, with a focus on supporting development gap narrowing, and subregional and regional cooperation of ASEM members, as well as improving the capacity of developing countries.
PM Dung affirmed that responding to global challenges is a crucial part in efforts to build a dynamic, self-reliant and united ASEAN community as well as in the bloc’s cooperation with partners.
On the sidelines of the 10th ASEM, PM Dung met with French President Francois Hollande, Italian counterpart Matteo Renzi, Swedish PM Stefan Löfven, Irish PM Enda Kenny, Finish PM Alexander Stubb, Switzerland’s President Didier Burkhalter, Luxembourg’s PM Xavier Betten and PM Ewa Kopacz of Poland.
VN-Vatican ties
In the course of cordial conversations, Pope Francis said PM Dung’s visit to the Vatican provides a good opportunity for both sides to enhance mutual understanding, thus strengthen the relations between Viet Nam and the Holy See.
The Holy See highly valued Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements and expressed its appreciation for the country’s religious policies which have brought back numerous outcomes.
The Pope also thanked the Government of Viet Nam and authorities at all levels for creating favorable conditions for the Vatican’s non-resident Special Envoy, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, to work in Viet Nam.
PM Dung affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the relations with the Vatican and persistently pursues and constantly refines its policies on respecting and safeguarding people’s rights to religion and faith freedom./.
By Huong Giang
