VN, Denmark agree to facilitate official signing of EU-Viet Nam FTA

Photo: VGP

Vietnamese Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen reached the consensus during their talks in Ha Noi on October 11.

Viet Nam always treasures friendly relations and cooperation with Denmark, the host said, expressing his belief that the Danish FM’s visit will contribute to lifting bilateral ties to a new height, particularly when the two countries are celebrating 45 years of diplomatic ties (November 25, 1971-2016).

Danish FM Jensen congratulated Viet Nam on its socio-economic development and international integration achievements, affirming that the Danish government wishes to promote cooperation with Viet Nam, a country with an increasing role in the region.

Both sides expressed their pleasure at the active developments in Viet Nam-Denmark friendly relations and cooperation over the past 45 years, while agreeing to enhance the exchange of all-level delegations, effectively implement the political consultation mechanism at the deputy foreign minister level and the Inter-government Committee on Economics and Trade mechanism, and fulfill the Viet Nam-Denmark Action Plan for 2016.

They also reached consensus on encouraging and creating favorable conditions for businesses of both countries to strengthen meetings, explore each other’s market and enhance cooperation in the priority fields such as agriculture, food processing, renewable energy, green growth and environment.

Deputy PM Minh thanked the Danish government for providing practical official development assistance (ODA) sources to Viet Nam over the past years, suggesting the two sides coordinate to work out new effective cooperation methods in the areas of adaptation to climate change, environment, energy and green growth.

Viet Nam welcomes Denmark’s support for ASEAN over the years and hopes that both sides will soon implement specific cooperation programmes concerning the fields of maritime security, institution building, infrastructure, education, agriculture, green technologies and adaptation to climate change, the deputy PM added.

The two officials also discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern and agreed on enhanced cooperation at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations.

With regards to the East Sea issue, both the host and the guest voiced their concern over the recent proceedings in the East Sea, stressing the need to peacefully solve disputes in line with international laws, the United Nations Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and move towards finalizing a code of conduct (COC) aiming to maintain peace, stability, and trade, aviation and maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea.