Stronger Ties For Vietnam-EU Relations Emerge During International Workshop

Hanoi, Vietnam (AHN) - Stronger ties for Vietnam-European Union (EU) relations emerged as the international workshop opened Tuesday, October 9.

The workshop themed "Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the Prospects for Vietnam EU Relations" is said to be an opportunity to re-align directions and measures to deepen the relations between Vietnam and EU in different areas, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said during the opening ceremony.

Inked in 1995, EU-Vietnam co-operation framework needs a more comprehensive partnership and co-operation agreement, Sandra Callagan, First Counsellor and Head of Political, Economic and Trade Section of the European Commission (EC) in Vietnam said.

"For Vietnam, the PCA is really the start of a new phase in our relationship, leaving behind a more dependant relationship and moving ahead into proper partnership," Callagan said before the October 9 meeting on Vietnam-EU relations in Hanoi.

Science, technology and research will also be the new areas of co-operation that Vietnam-EU can work together, EC Counsellor Callagan added.

The workshop delegates added that advancement in relations will help in contributing better perspective in the fields of human rights, anti-terrorism, transnational crimes battle, non-proliferation of weapons, migration, energy, environment, technological cooperation and sustainable development.

The PCA will stand as an aid in strengthening the regional integration process in South East Asia, with hopes to build an updated and appropriate framework in developing Vietnam-EU cooperation and build-up the ties between the EU and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in promoting peace, stability and development, and meeting demands of globalization.

The 27-member EU with a population of 500 million is reported to be producing 30 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), 41 percent of international trade and 43 percent of global investment.

Ties between the two sides is booming as its bilateral trade hit US $10 billion in 2006 and a US $7.4 billion investment from EU in Vietnam.