(VOVWORLD) -Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday called on ASEAN and the EU to be persistent with their goals, renew their mindset, act aggressively, and promote their strategic partnership for balanced, equal and harmonious benefits and risk sharing.
 European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Photo: Vu Khuyen/ VOV
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Addressing the Summit to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the relationship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), in Brussels, Prime Minister Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always stands side by side with EU enterprises to invest and do business in the country. He asked the EU to urgently remove the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnamese seafood and soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.
The PM reiterated Vietnam's strong commitment to combating climate change for green and sustainable development and proposed the EU to provide maximum financial and technological support within the framework of the Fair Energy Transition Partnership. He expected the EU to share information, experiences, green, clean and cheap new technologies, and deeply participate in cooperation in innovation, digital transformation, green economy development, and circular economy, as well as work with ASEAN to develop the sub-region and the Mekong.
PM Chinh suggested that ASEAN and the EU take peace as the goal, consider dialogue and cooperation as tools, and uphold the rule of law, the UN Charter and common values. He affirmed ASEAN's stance on the East Sea, asking ASEAN, the EU and other countries to work together to build the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
 The ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit. Photo: Vu Khuyen/ VOV
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Mentioning the crisis in Ukraine, the Prime Minister stressed the need to respect the legitimate interests and concerns of all parties with the current top priority of ending conflicts and protecting essential infrastructure, people's lives and property.
He affirmed ASEAN's shared position on peaceful settlement of conflicts and disagreements on the basis of respect for international law, the United Nations Charter, and independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.
The Summit adopted a Joint Statement that reflects the achievements of the past 45 years and sets out the future direction.