(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, on Wednesday concluded working sessions with leaders of EU bodies in Brussels to learn about the EU’s institutional structure and discussed ways to foster cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son

 Son asked the European Parliament and EU members to quickly approve the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), hasten the negotiations on the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) before the 10^th Asia-Europe Meeting scheduled for October, offer Vietnam market economy  status before concluding EVFTA negotiations and facilitate Vietnam’s import products to the EU. He added that Vietnam was committed to ensuring security, safety, and rights for foreign businesses and individuals including European investors, and encourage businesses on both sides to seize opportunities from the EVFTA and Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Concerning the ongoing East Sea tensions, Deputy Foreign Minister Son called on the EU and Belgian officials, scholars and European businesses to demand China’s withdrawal of its illegal Haiyang 981 oil rig and escort ships from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and resolve tensions through peaceful solutions.