Trade officials of Vietnam and the European Commission (EC) have sought ways to address newly-arising issues in bilateral trade ties.
During their three-day meeting in Brussels, Belgium, starting from May 17, they discussed matters relating to procedures to approve the EU’s initiatives, including trade agreements, food hygiene and safety, and environmental protection.
Vietnamese trade counselors in 14 European countries and officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and municipal and provincial trade departments attended the meeting.
The EC delegation to the event included representatives from the European Parliament’s Trade Committee and leaders of EU negotiation teams for the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam.
The officials exchanged views on the latest developments in bilateral and multilateral trade ties in a sincere and frankly atmosphere.
The EC officials emphasised Vietnam’s important position in the EC’s international trade relations and the country’s growing prestige in the international arena.
They also referred to Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship and its attendance at the upcoming G-20 conference.
They updated the Vietnamese trade counselors with the latest developments in the EU after the Lisbon Treaty takes effect, post-Lisbon treaty institutional issues, and the EU’s new structures and its economic adjustments after the global economic and financial crisis as well as Greece’s debt crisis.
The Vietnamese-EC trade officials’ meeting is a periodic activity within a framework of PCA negotiations aiming to establish a mutual legal foundation for all-sided cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.
This regular meeting will enable the EU and Vietnam to gain deeper understanding to boost bilateral and multilateral trade./.