During a reception in Hanoi on November 18 for the European Commissioner for Environment Karmenu Vella, the Deputy PM hailed the success of the third International Wildlife Trade Conference held in Hanoi, to which the Commissioner has made a great contribution.
He reiterated the Vietnamese government’s commitment and resolve to eradicate illegal wildlife trade, which is reflected in the Prime Minister’s issuance of a directive on urgent measures to intensify the fight against such crimes.
Deputy PM Dung took the occasion to praise the conclusion of negotiations on the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (VPA/FLEGT) between Vietnam and the EU, which was announced by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong and the European Commissioner for Environment earlier thesame day.
In relation to environmental issues, the Deputy PM affirmed that Vietnam has been actively implementing commitments reached at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) in Paris.
He wished that the Commissioner will encourage programmes on assisting Vietnam in line with the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, as well as in helping Vietnam build an open and transparent system for the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Vella, for his part, noted that the EU and Vietnam have achieved much in their cooperation on fighting the illegal trade of wildlife and forest products.
He expressed the wish that Vietnam and the EU will expand cooperation in diverse areas, at both business and people-to-people levels.
He stressed that the EU pledges to assist Vietnam in climate change response, marine environment protection, and the development of green marine-based economy.
