(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam stands ready to serve as a bridge between the EU and Southeast Asia, support the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership, and deal with regional and global issues, said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at a working session on Thursday with Josep Borrell, Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
 Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha meets with Josep Borrell, vice president of the European Commission and High Representative of the EUfor Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, October 26, 2023. (Photo: VNA)
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Mr. Ha proposed that the two sides fully and effectively implement existing collaboration mechanisms in order to strengthen trade investment through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
He said he hopes EU member states will soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and that the EC will soon remove the IUU yellow card, while also expanding co-operation in climate change response and energy transition, especially through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) framework.
Borrell said Vietnam is an important partner of the EU in the region and applauded the comprehensive development of mutual relations, especially in economics and trade, with the EVFTA being effectively exploited, thereby helping bilateral trade turnover soar 20% in 2022.
The EC Vice President pledged to support Vietnam within the JETP framework, noted Vietnamese recent efforts with regard to IUU, and asked that Vietnam fully implement the EC's recommendations to make it possible for the yellow card to be removed soon.