Hanoi (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh received Chairman of theEuropean Parliament (EP)’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) Bernd Lange inHanoi on September 9, affirming that trade - investment cooperation is animportant pillar in the Vietnam - EU relations.

The host leader highlighted Vietnam’sforeign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification andmultilateralisation of international relations, of which the EU is an importantpartner of the country.

He applauded strides in theVietnam - EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation, noting that after two years of enforcingthe EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), bilateral trade has growncontinually while the EU’s investment into the Southeast Asian nation has also beenon the rise.

PM Chinh asked the EU to continuecreating favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter its market, and urged its member states to soon finalise the ratification of the EU - Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to further promote bilateral economic ties.

He called on the bloc to soon liftthe “yellow card” warning and continue providing technical assistance for thecountry to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Vietnamese Government alwayscreates a fair and stable investment environment and is ready to listen toopinions to improve administrative procedures and legal regulations in order toprovide optimal conditions for foreign investors, including those from the EU,he affirmed, adding that the country will continue seriously and fullyimplementing the commitments in the EVFTA, including the ones on sustainabledevelopment.

The PM recommended the two sides to increase mutual visits and meetings at all levels while maintaining and effectivelybringing into play cooperation and dialogue mechanisms to enhance mutualunderstanding and identify cooperation orientations for the time ahead.

He also asked the EU to strengthenties with Vietnam in climate change response, sustainable development, greentransition, and renewable energy.

On this occasion, the government leader underlinedVietnam’s support for the reinforcement of the ASEAN - EU strategicpartnership.

For his part, Lange noted Vietnam is one of the EU’s importantpartners in the region, and the EP always supports stronger bilateralcooperation in all spheres, especially when the EU is carrying out manypolicies oriented towards the Indo-Pacific region, including Vietnam.

He highly valued the country’sefforts to seriously implement the commitments in the EVFTA, thus helping toeffectively carry out the deal and create momentum for bilateral trade andinvestment ties in the time ahead.

The official held that Vietnam has anattractive investment climate amid global uncertainties, and agreed to coordinatewith the country to promote EU members’ ratification of the EVIPA.

Lange also spoke highly the prospectof cooperation with Vietnam in climate change response, environmental protection, greengrowth, and energy transition.

The EU is implementing many greentransition strategies and initiatives, he noted, voicing his belief that thetwo sides will have many successful cooperation projects in this regard.

In terms of the energy transitionpartnership between Vietnam and the Group of Seven (G7), he said the EU isactively working with the UK to step up the establishment of this mechanism./.