The remark was made by NA Vice Chairman, Phung Quoc Hien, at a reception in Hanoi on October 30 for a delegation from the EP’s Committee on Fisheries led by Gabriel Mato, member of the EP and committee spokesperson.
Welcoming the delegates of the EP’s Fisheries Committee to Vietnam, the NA official expressed his delight at the positive development between Vietnam and the EU. The EU is currently the largest provider of non-refundable aid, the third largest trading partner, and the second largest export market of Vietnam.
He expressed his hope for the EP’s support for the the early signing and ratification of the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which are expected to bring huge benefits for the people and enterprises of both sides.
He said that Vietnam considers the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood as an opportunity to boost the fisheries sector’s sustainable and responsible development, stressing that Vietnam is implementing many measures synchronously in order to address the warning in an effective and proper manner.
Regarding the recently-signed Vietnam-EU Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA), the NA Vice Chair urged the EP to soon ratify the agreement in order to facilitate the export of Vietnamese timber and wood products to the EU.
For his part, Gabriel Mato said the EP’s Fisheries Committee’s visit to Vietnam aims to share experience with Vietnam in controlling illegal fishing, affirming that the EU is willing to cooperate with all countries in this field.
He spoke highly of the country’s efforts to fight illegal fishing, including the promulgation and implementation of numerous important legal regulations.
He also affirmed the delegation members’ willingness to support the early signing and ratification of the EVFTA.
