Hanoi (VNA) – Chairwoman of the NationalAssembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and European Commissioner for Trade CeciliaMalmstrom exchanged ideas related to the signing and ratification of theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agrement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement (EVIPA) during their meeting in Hanoi on July 1.

The top legislator highly valued the role of theEU and the trade official in promoting the signing of the two agreements.

Malmstrom said the signing is a remarkableprogress in the relations between Vietnam and the EU which helps reinforce thebilateral partnership and comprehensive cooperation.

With the two pacts, the two sides hope thebilateral relations will reach further based on the implementation of jointcommitments focusing on trade and investment.

Both the EU and Vietnam want to strengthencooperation in free and sustainable trade to bring common benefits for theirpeoples and businesses.

The signing marked an important historicalmilestone, she said, adding that the EU will continue supporting Vietnam toimplement the follow-up work related to the agreements.

Highly appreciating the role of Vietnameseleaders in the negotiations of the two agreements, Malmstrom stressed theimportance of implementing the pacts, including the programme on trade andsustainable development, to bring practical benefits for employees and locals.

Chairwoman Ngan said at the working session ofthe NA at this year’s end, the legislature will conduct the ratification of theEVFTA and continue improving the legal system to implement the two deals.

She said the two trade pacts will help elevatethe bilateral relations to a new height and open up numerous cooperationopportunities for their businesses.

The top legislator expressed her belief thatafter being ratified and implemented, the two agreements will bring practicalbenefits for Vietnamese and EU peoples, businesses, and investors.

The two sides agreed that the maintenance ofdialogues is important not only in the process of implementing the agreementsbut also deepening the bilateral cooperative ties within the framework of theEU-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA).

Vietnam and EU’s relevant agencies will closelywork together to prepare the next steps to submit to the Vietnamese NationalAssembly and the European Parliament (EP) for early ratification.

Chairwoman Ngan stressed that the commonperception of Vietnam and the EU is enhancing cooperation not only for thebenefits of the two sides, but also for the world’s prosperity.-VNA