Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development NguyenXuan Cuong had a bilateral meeting in Hanoi on January 7 with Vice President ofthe European Parliament (EP) Heidi Hautala who is leading an EP workingdelegation to Vietnam from January 7-9.

At the event, MinisterCuong spoke highly of the cooperation developments between Vietnam and the EU,particularly in terms of investment.

In the field ofsustainable development, the EU is considered Vietnam’s top development partnerwith the two main pillars of maritime economy and forest development.

The EU issued a“yellow card” warning for Vietnam in 2017 for illegal, unreported, andunregulated (IUU) fishing; along with nine recommendations to help the countrydevelop more sustainable fisheries.

Cuong said that afterthe EU made the nine recommendations, Vietnam was quick to complete its nationalinstitutions and laws, including the new Law on Fisheries, which has put the ninerecommendations into a solid legal framework.

Vietnam has also paidattention to forestry development. Currently, the country has 14 millionhectares of forests, with forest coverage reaching 41.65 percent – a high rate bothregionally and globally.

The country isbuilding up its forestry economy with the participation of some 4,500 relevant enterprises.Last year, the sector enjoyed an export turnover of over 9 billion USD, hestated.

However, Cuong notedthat the sector is still facing several weaknesses, including low productivity,small number of enterprises participating in the forestry chain, and the relativelysmall area of forests that have received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)management certificates.

The signing of the VoluntaryPartnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT)between Vietnam and the EU offers a chance for the Southeast Asian nation torestructure the sector towards a transparent production chain, from materials toprocessing and trading, Cuong stressed.

Heidi Hautala saidthat EU consumers are paying greater attention to the origin of products. Therefore,the responsibility and role of the private enterprises are becoming more andmore important.

The VPA/FLEGT withVietnam is the second agreement the EU has signed in Asia, following a pactwith Indonesia, she stated, adding that this is an important step by the EU towardsbuilding a broader strategy to intensify biodiversity and sustainabledevelopment in Asia, as well as fighting illegal timber exploitation andtrading.

She said that theagreement will encourage transparency and have pervasive effects on theproduction chain with the EU and nations around the world as the EU has signed similaragreements with 16 other countries.

The EU is working tosoon ratify the agreement with Vietnam, she added. –VNA