Hanoi:Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Hong Dien met with a high-level European business delegation led by Noel Clehane, Vice-Chair of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), in Hanoi on November 5. The delegation comprised leaders from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) and representatives of European companies interested in trade and investment opportunities in Vietnam.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Dien emphasized Vietnam's recognition of the European Union (EU) as a key partner in its foreign policy. He acknowledged the significant contributions of the European business community to Vietnam's socio-economic development, particularly in areas such as investment, technology transfer, and training of high-quality human resources. Dien assured that the NA values business feedback in legislative processes to create a favorable business environment.
European business leaders commended Vietnam's socio-economic progress, identifying the country as a dynamic and reliable investment destination. They highlighted the elevation of Vietnam-EU relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as a milestone for new cooperation opportunities and affirmed their commitment to investing in Vietnam, especially in innovation and sustainable development.
Discussions between the two sides focused on four main areas institutional and legal enhancements, economic development, healthcare and social welfare, and advancements in science, technology, and sustainable development. European businesses raised concerns about various sectors, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, public procurement, and technology transfer, while Vietnamese representatives reiterated their commitment to legislative improvements to enhance investment efficiency.
Vietnamese agencies encouraged European cooperation in priority sectors and urged the use of EU initiatives, such as the Global Gateway and Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), to foster technology transfer and renewable energy development. Dien concluded by calling on European businesses to advocate for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and support the removal of the EU's "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood. He stressed the importance of fulfilling cooperation commitments and continued European support in financing and technology transfer to meet sustainable development standards, aiming to strengthen the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.