Vietnam highly values relations with EU member states including Portugal: NA official

A delegation of the National Assembly (NA) led by its Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man on November 13 took activities to promote the Vietnam-Portugal relations, within the framework of the visit to the European country.

Vietnam highly values relations with EU member states including Portugal: NA official -0
Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Francisco André. Photo: VNA

At the meeting with Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Francisco André, the Vietnamese NA official said that Vietnam attaches importance and gives priority to strengthening the partnership and comprehensive cooperation with European Union, its member states including Portugal – an important member of the EU.

He thanked Portugal for ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in April and called on the country to encourage other EU member states to ratify the agreement soon.

Man also asked Portugal to help push the removal of the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” warning against Vietnam's seafood products relating to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU).

At the meeting, the two sides agreed that investment cooperation between the two countries is still modest compared to its potential. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to promote cooperation in fields such as culture, education, marine economy, maritime, renewable energy, tourism, information technology, and labour.

The Portuguese official said his country is highly aware of Vietnam's efforts to improve the legal framework against the IUU fishing, and hopes that the EU will consider those efforts to have positive assessments to soon remove the warning against Vietnam.

At a meeting with President of the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) Filipe Santos Costa, the Vietnamese official said that by the end of 2022, Portugal had only three investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of 110,000 USD. Meanwhile, Vietnam had one project in Portugal with a registered capital of 856,000 USD.

He said the two sides share the view to boost cooperation and investment and take advantages of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to have bilateral trade reached 1 billion USD in the coming time.

Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge connecting Portugal and the Southeast Asian market, Man said.

At the meeting with parliamentarians of the Portuguese Communist Party, he said that Vietnam always pays attention to consolidating and developing friendship and cooperative relations with traditional friends like the Portuguese Communist Party.

On this occasion, Man also reiterated the invitation by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party Paulo Raimundo to visit Vietnam in 2024.

Also the same day, the NA delegation met with Ricardo Valente who is Councilor for Finance, Economy, and Employment of Porto city and leaders of EDP Renewables - a global leader in the renewable energy sector and the world's fourth-largest wind energy producer. 

Currently, the group has three solar power farm projects and 10 clusters of rooftop solar power projects in Vietnam. The group leaders appreciated Vietnam's policies in supporting its projects.

They said they hope Vietnam will continue to have preferential policies so that the group can operate new technologies in the country such as floating solar and hydrogen technology./.

Politics-Diplomacy

Economic diplomacy contributes to socio-economic development: PM
Politics-Diplomacy

Economic diplomacy contributes to socio-economic development: PM

Economic diplomacy has truly become a key component in all external affairs, especially high-level diplomacy, contributing effectively to implemeting strategic breakthroughs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said while chairing a conference with ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to review the economic diplomacy work in 2024, in Hanoi on December 20.

PM urges Da Nang to lead Vietnam's economic transformation
Politics-Diplomacy

PM urges Da Nang to lead Vietnam's economic transformation

The central city of Da Nang must fully harness its distinctive potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages to achieve double-digit economic growth, solidifying its role as a growth hub of the central – Central Highlands region and the nation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 21.

Party chief holds phone talks with Singapore's ruling party leader
Politics-Diplomacy

Party chief holds phone talks with Singapore's ruling party leader

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) To Lam held a phone talks with Secretary-General of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong on December 20 afternoon, during which the Vietnamese Party chief suggested the two countries further strengthen political trust through meetings and exchanges of all-level delegations.

Leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh on army's 80th anniversary
Politics-Diplomacy

Leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh on army's 80th anniversary

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the State President, the National Assembly, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defence on December 20 paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival (December 22).

Party chief receives Chinese Minister of Defence
Politics-Diplomacy

Party chief receives Chinese Minister of Defence

Party General Secretary To Lam, Secretary of the Central Military Commission, hosted a reception in Hanoi on December 19 for Chinese Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun and a delegation from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) who  are in Vietnam for the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the All People's Defence Festival (December 22).

Deputy FM welcomes French diplomats in Asia
Politics-Diplomacy

Deputy FM welcomes French diplomats in Asia

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu hosted a delegation from the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and French Ambassadors in Asia led by Benoit Guidée, Director General of the ministry's Asia-Pacific Department in Hanoi on December 16.

NA prepares for political system reform in 2025
Politics-Diplomacy

NA prepares for political system reform in 2025

Politburo member, Secretary of the National Assembly (NA) Party Delegation, and NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired the second meeting of the Steering Committee tasked with reviewing the implementation of the 12th Party Central Committee’s Resolution on several issues regarding the continued reform and reorganisation of political system to ensure it is lean, effective, and efficient, in Hanoi on December 16.