Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 29welcomed a delegation from the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee onFisheries led by Gabriel Mato, MEP and committee spokesperson.

Stressing that Vietnam has always and will continue toconsiders the relationship between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the EPas an important pillar in the Vietnam-EU comprehensive cooperation, PM Phucexpressed his belief that the delegation’s visit will help foster bilateralties.

Gabriel Mato said the visit aims to learn about Vietnam’s recentefforts to control illegal fishing and to share EU experience in this work withthe country, as well as affirming that the EU is willing to cooperate with allcountries in this field.

On behalf of the delegation, he spoke highly of thecountry’s efforts to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing,including promulgating and implementing numerous important legal regulations.

He expressed his belief that the delegation’s activities inVietnam will produce positive outcomes and serve as the foundation to propose thatthe early removal of the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning onVietnamese seafood, thus helping promote EU collaboration with the SoutheastAsian nation.

The Vietnamese leader said that his country considers theEC’s “yellow card” warning an opportunity to boost the fisheries sector’ssustainable and responsible development.

He told the visiting guests that Vietnam is implementingmany measures synchronously to address the warning in an effective and suitablemanner. The country promulgated the Law on Fisheries on November 21, 2017, hasmade various sub-law documents, implemented a national action programme on IUUfishing combat, and intensified the dissemination on legal regulations tofishermen.

He asked the delegation to help push for the EC’s removal ofits warning label, and affirmed that the Government will create all favourableconditions for the delegation.

Mentioning the freshly-signed Vietnam-EU Forest LawEnforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA),PM Phuc urged the EP to soon ratify the agreement in order to facilitate theexport of Vietnam’s timber and wood products to the EU, thus bringing biggerinterest in economics and environmental protection for both sides.

He welcomed the EP’s recent statements and resolutions onthe East Sea issue and maritime security, requesting the EP to continue backingthe settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means on the basis ofinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Delegation members underlined their back for tradeliberalisation and hoped for the early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA). –VNA