(VOVworld) – The new ambassador and head of the EU delegation to Vietnam Bruno Angelet said on Wednesday that the EU and Vietnam are moving toward a stronger relationship. He said that the main task of his mission in Vietnam will be promoting stronger investment and trade between EU member states and Vietnam, developing cooperation in sustainable energy development and the modernization of rural areas as well as supporting Vietnam in public finance governance.

He said: “I think it’s first to say that Europe is a very good partner and I think the best partner for Vietnam and a real friend because we have been with Vietnam since more than 20 years: first working humanitarian peace and development cooperation, and then aid and trade and investment. And today we brought a partnership. Our partnership has changed. Before it was basically aid and trade and I think that today, with the Free Trade Agreement that we concluded, with the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) which is a strategic cooperation program with Vietnam, and we have development cooperation, all the building blocks are in place to start the new strategic, comprehensive and political partnership with Vietnam. But I think that for the future, Europe is still the best partner for Vietnam and I think that Vietnam having been a very pro-active and dynamic for the EU country in ASEAN, together with the commitment of Vietnam, maybe we can have one the best partnerships with the European Union.”

The EU ambassador said the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will be likely signed in December, bringing new technologies and investment resources to Vietnam.

Bruno Angelet used to be Belgium’s ambassador to Vietnam from 2011 to 2015. He was involved in developing Europe’s foreign policy and has a lot of experience in European-related issues.