Ties with Belgium and EU make pitch
The Belgian Government has pledged to continue support for Vietnam in its renewal process and in expanding relations with other European Union (EU) nations.
Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht made the pledges in response to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem during their recent talks in Brussels as part of Khiem’s visit to Belgium from September 17-18.
Khiem, who doubles as Foreign Minister, asked for further support to Vietnam in its renewal process and global integration.
He also asked for support in developing Vietnam’s relations with the EU and for creating conditions for Vietnamese commodities to enter Belgium and the EU.
In reply, De Gucht appreciated Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, especially in hunger elimination and poverty alleviation.
He said his Government would create more favourable conditions for Belgian enterprises to increase trade and investments.
On September 18, Khiem attended a Vietnam-Belgium business forum, where he guaranteed that inflation and trade deficit in Vietnam had been controlled, thus bringing the national economy to stability.
He also visited the European Commission and had working sessions with commissioners Benita Ferrero Waldner and Peter Mandelson.
Both host and guest expressed satisfaction at fine development of relations over the past 20 years, where EU emerged as a top trade partner of Vietnam with two way trade revenues surpassing 14 billion USD in 2007.
EU has poured over 9 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) through 730 projects and made commitments of 8.3 billion USD in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.
The two sides agreed to maintain the exchange of visits and high-level contacts as well as to accelerate negotiations on a partner and cooperation agreement (PCA) and sign the pact soon.
The pact is expected to create a legal framework for development of comprehensive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and EU.
Khiem complained of an EU decision to count out some of Vietnamese commodities from benefiting from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) in 2009-2011.
He said the move would have a bad impact on a large number of Vietnamese workhands and run counter to the current positive trend of Vietnam-EU relations.
He asked EU to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status soon and remove anti-dumping tariffs levied on leather-capped shoes imported from Vietnam .
Khiem also called on EU to continue providing ODA capital for Vietnam after 2013.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Vietnam supported comprehensive relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and EU, saying that he expected EU would become a leading partner of the grouping.
He also welcomed negotiations to establish an EU-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
(CPV/VNA)
Khiem, who doubles as Foreign Minister, asked for further support to Vietnam in its renewal process and global integration.
He also asked for support in developing Vietnam’s relations with the EU and for creating conditions for Vietnamese commodities to enter Belgium and the EU.
In reply, De Gucht appreciated Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, especially in hunger elimination and poverty alleviation.
He said his Government would create more favourable conditions for Belgian enterprises to increase trade and investments.
On September 18, Khiem attended a Vietnam-Belgium business forum, where he guaranteed that inflation and trade deficit in Vietnam had been controlled, thus bringing the national economy to stability.
He also visited the European Commission and had working sessions with commissioners Benita Ferrero Waldner and Peter Mandelson.
Both host and guest expressed satisfaction at fine development of relations over the past 20 years, where EU emerged as a top trade partner of Vietnam with two way trade revenues surpassing 14 billion USD in 2007.
EU has poured over 9 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) through 730 projects and made commitments of 8.3 billion USD in official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.
The two sides agreed to maintain the exchange of visits and high-level contacts as well as to accelerate negotiations on a partner and cooperation agreement (PCA) and sign the pact soon.
The pact is expected to create a legal framework for development of comprehensive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and EU.
Khiem complained of an EU decision to count out some of Vietnamese commodities from benefiting from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) in 2009-2011.
He said the move would have a bad impact on a large number of Vietnamese workhands and run counter to the current positive trend of Vietnam-EU relations.
He asked EU to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status soon and remove anti-dumping tariffs levied on leather-capped shoes imported from Vietnam .
Khiem also called on EU to continue providing ODA capital for Vietnam after 2013.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Vietnam supported comprehensive relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and EU, saying that he expected EU would become a leading partner of the grouping.
He also welcomed negotiations to establish an EU-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
(CPV/VNA)
Created by
vubaochi
Last modified 03-10-2008
Last modified 03-10-2008