Brussels (VNA) – Head of the Party CentralCommittee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh has lauded the activedevelopment of Vietnam – European Union (EU) ties over the past years,especially in trade and investment.

During a recent working session with Vice President of theEuropean Commission Jyrki Katainen as part of his ongoing visit to Belgium andthe EU from May 30-31, Binh hailed the EU as the second largest trade partnerof Vietnam (behind China), the second largest export market (behind the US)with 18 percent of Vietnam’s shipments arriving in the bloc, and one of thefive largest foreign investors in the country.

Last year, two-way trade neared 52 billion USD, 31.8 billionUSD of which was Vietnam’s trade surplus.

Both sides shared the view that the ratification of thePartnership and Cooperation Agreement has created an important legal frameworkto lift Vietnam – EU ties.

They wished that the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)would be signed soon. The EU would assist Vietnam in improving capacity tofully and effectively deliver on commitments mentioned in the deal.

Binh highlighted benefits that EVFTA will bring to Vietnamand EU member states, laying a foundation to connect EU with the Southeast Asiaand the Asia-Pacific, especially in the context of rising protectionism.

While in Belgium, Binh also met Belgian Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo, formerDeputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister and President of the ChristianDemocratic and Flemish Party parliamentarians’ group Steven Vanackere, andMinister of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development Marie - ChristineMarghem.

During working sessions with Belgian leaders, Binh expressedhis delight at the active, diverse and practical development of Vietnam –Belgium ties, from the federal to regional level, adding that the visit is ofsignificance on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The two sides affirmed that economic-financial cooperationis a priority pillar in bilateral ties and vowed to continue effectivelyrealising outcomes of the fourth session of the Joint Committee on EconomicAffairs in November 2017 in Hanoi.

The Belgian side committed favourable conditions forVietnamse goods to enter distribution channels, supermarkets and retail shop inthe country, especially farm and aquatic products.

The host leaders pledged to continue supporting Vietnam – EUcomprehensive partnership, including the early signing, ratification and fullimplementation of the EVFTA.

The Vietnamese side expressed readiness to help Belgiumenhance cooperation with ASEAN and its member states.

Vietnam is striving to improve business climate, accelerateeconomic restructuring with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises, hesaid, adding that the country hopes Belgian government will encourage domesticfirms to do business in fields of their strength and Vietnam’s priority such asmaritime transportation, logistics services, green technology, agriculture,renewable energy, health care and equitisation of State-owned enterprises.

He suggested speeding up projects in urban development andclimate change response in the central provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan andHa Tinh using non-refundable aid provided by Belgian government, as well ascompleting the second stage of the project on water drainage and wastewatertreatment in Cua Lo town, the central province of Nghe An.

During his stay, Binh also visited and held a workingsession with the Vietnamese embassy in Belgium.-VNA