EU en Vietnam willen banden aanhalen (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 26 April 2012 A

High Representative Catherine Ashton met with the Foreign

Minister of Vietnam

Brunei, 26 April 2012 - Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, met with the Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Pham Binh Minh, today in the margins of the EU-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Brunei. They discussed the bilateral relationship between the European Union and Vietnam as well as EU's relations with ASEAN

"The European Union and Vietnam are strengthening their relationship. I am looking forward to the signature of the new EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in the near future. We are also deepening our cooperation in Crisis Management, including in peacekeeping and maritime security

And in the context of the relations with ASEAN, I look forward to Vietnam becoming ASEAN coordinator for relations with the EU on 1 July, taking over from the current excellent coordinator, Brunei. I also expect to have a good working relationship with the next Secretary General of ASEAN, Vietnamese diplomat Le Luong Minh," said Catherine Ashton

The High Representative also welcomed the recent exploratory talks that paved the way for the start of negotiations of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement. This ambitious agreement should also include provisions on investment that would bring more growth and employment in Vietnam and the EU

Catherine Ashton and the Foreign Minister also discussed other areas of cooperation. She welcomed the first round of the enhanced dialogue on Human Rights the two sides held earlier this year and stressed the need for progress in this area