Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Ambassador Julien Guerrier, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, Hanoi, November 24, 2023. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Vietnam attaches importance to promoting relations with the EU, Mr. Chinh said, suggesting both sides explore the possibility of elevating their relationship and work out new measures to enhance cooperation.

He affirmed Vietnam's strong support for EU initiatives and solutions in green and sustainable development. PM Chinh called on the EU to provide maximum support to Vietnam in terms of capital, technology, institutional improvement, and human resource training to collectively address global issues, especially environmental protection and climate change.

He asked the European Commission (EC) to consider the early removal of the IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing yellow card, given Vietnam's efforts in combating IUU fishing. He also encouraged enhanced cooperation in sustainable marine economic development, including logistics, offshore wind power, resource exploitation, and ensuring maritime security, safety, and freedom.

Ambassador Guerrier praised Vietnam's support for the EU’s green standards, saying the country can become a pioneer in this domain. He emphasized that the EU and Vietnam share many similarities and have enormous cooperation potential, especially during Vietnam’s upcoming pivotal development phase.

The Ambassador said that the EU will continue to help Vietnam achieve the goals of becoming a developed country with high income by 2045 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.