Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung and President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso on October 4 (local time) in Brussels, Belgium, witnessed the initial signing of the new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU.
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Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung (L) shakes hands with EC President Barroso, Brussels, Belgium, October 4, 2010
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The Vietnamese Government chief visited the EC and met with EC President Jose Manuel Barroso during his tour to Brussels for the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM-8).
Both PM Nguyen Tan Dung and EC President Barroso expressed their satisfaction of the robust developments in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the EU over the last 20 years.
The two leaders extremely welcomed the completion of negotiations and initialing of the PCA right on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the EU, asserting that the Agreement would open a new chapter for the Vietnam-EU relations.
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The signing ceremony of the PCA between Vietnam and the EU, Brussels, Belgium, October 4, 2010
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The two sides agreed to continue reciprocal visits, especially at high levels, in order to cement and deepen the bilateral ties, reinforce mutual understanding and exchange view regarding issues of common concern.
Both PM Dung and EC President Barroso paid their attention to measures which facilitate commercial and economic linkages.
The two leaders reached an agreement to launch negotiations for a fee trade agreement after the technical working group finalizes its mission and the EU recognizes Vietnam as a market economy in the coming time.
PM Dung suggested the EU end its anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnam’s leather capped shoes.
PM Dung took the occasion to express his gratitude to EU member states for their effective assistance to Vietnam via development cooperation projects and their provision of the generalized system of preferences (GSP).
The EC President hailed the achievements of Vietnam for socio-economic development, fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals while underlining his support for Vietnam in other issues.
He congratulated the Southeast Asian country for fulfilling its mission as the Chair of ASEAN in 2010 and appreciated Vietnam for her positive and dynamic contribution to the integration of ASEAN and the Asia-Europe cooperation.
PM Dung and EC President Barroso also witnessed the signing of other important documents between Vietnam and the EU on aviation services, a loan agreement for the Ha Noi metro project and a cooperation program for 2011-2013./.