The Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, head of the EU delegation affirmed Vietnam’s positive role in ASEAN integration process, on his visit to Hanoi to attend ASEAN meeting on July 22-23.
The theme “From vision to action” in the year, Vietnam undertakes the ASEAN chair reflects this role, he said.
He also said that ASEAN could not do important things without taking vision and goals, but at the same time, everything depends on the implementation of ideas and visions.
On the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings on July 23, Minister Janes Martonyi said the EU spoke highly of the signing of the third protocol on amendments to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) which allow for EU access to the TAC.
According to the head of the EU delegation, the relationship between the EU and ASEAN is continuing to develop. He said the EU is committed to strong cooperation with ASEAN member countries and interested in developing trade and economic ties through the Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA).
As a major partner of ASEAN, the EU wishes to participate in and contribute to the regional structure and, “access to TAC is an important step in this process”, he asserted.
On the occasion, he expressed thanks for Vietnam’s chairmanship role and its contribution to creating favourable conditions for the EU’s participation in this important regional treaty.
He also underlined that the EU appreciates its bilateral ties with Vietnam. At present, the two sides have just concluded the 8 th round of negotiations on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement./