EU commissioner to visit Vietnam
The European Union's commissioner for external relations and European neighborhood policy will visit Vietnam on Friday through Saturday, the European Commission said Thursday.
"Vietnam is a key partner in Southeast Asia for the European Union," Benita Ferrero-Waldner said before traveling to Asia.
"Trade and development cooperation remain important cornerstones in the EU-Vietnam relationship, but we are progressively engaging also in an active dialogue on regional and global issues of mutual concern."
The commissioner will meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien.
They will discuss ways to strengthen the political, economic and trade links between the EU and Vietnam in the context of Vietnam's "Master Plan" on relations with the EU.
This plan aims to upgrade the EU-Vietnam Cooperation Agreement.
Other subjects will be Vietnam's role in the region and an enhanced cooperation in the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting and ongoing global issues like the World Trade Organization and avian flu.
The leaders will further discuss the trafficking of drugs and illegal migration, the fight against terrorism and poverty reduction.
The EU is Vietnam's foremost economic partner with two-way trade worth 7.4 billion euros in 2005 and an aggregate utilized EU investment in the country of US$4 billion.
The EU was the biggest donor of grant development aid to Vietnam in 2004 and 2005.
It also helps Vietnam with 40 million euros annually for basic education and health.
"Vietnam should be commended for its great efforts and achievements in developing its economy and fighting poverty in recent years," Ferrero-Waldner said.
"The European Commission is fully committed to continue to support the country's reform process to ensure that development benefits all parts of Vietnamese society."
Koydo News - April 21, 2006.
Vietnam, EU’s key partner in Southeast Asia
The European Union considers Vietnam its key partner in Southeast Asia, EU foreign affairs chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner has affirmed ahead of her visit to Vietnam on April 21-22.
Continuous expansion of multifaceted cooperation, particularly in trade, between Vietnam and the EU had played a critical role in enhancing relationship between the two sides, said the European Commissioner for External Relations.
In 2005, two-way trade reached €7.4 billion and total registered investment capital of the EU in Vietnam posted €4 billion.
Over the past years, the EU had spared no efforts to support Vietnam's development as well as the country's endeavors to accomplish its Millennium Development Goals, she added.
The EU provided Vietnam with an average of €40 million Euros in aid each year to help the country further develop a wide range of sectors, with a focus on health and education.
The High Commissioner also acknowledged Vietnam's proposal of an overall future relationship development plan between the two sides, which she said helped to prove that Vietnam attached great importance to strengthening its relations with the EU.
Vietnam News Agency - April 21, 2006.
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