The EU and Vietnam held the second meeting of the Sub Committee on Political Issues under the European Union (EU) – Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on 13 April 2022 online. 

The EU and Vietnam had an open and constructive exchange on a wide range of subjects. The meeting confirmed the interest on both sides to strengthen the overall relationship in the context of the EU Strategy for Cooperation with the Indo Pacific and Vietnam’s sustainable development goals, in a number of areas, including climate change and energy transition.

The EU and Vietnam discussed domestic political priorities, alongside global and regional issues, including EU-ASEAN relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Mekong sub-region, the South China Sea and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The EU reiterated its strong condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine and its people.

Both parties confirmed they will carry out a stocktaking of bilateral relations at the next Joint Committee that will take place in Hanoi.

Ms Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and Pacific in the European External Action Service and Mr Do Hung Viet, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director General, Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, co-chaired the meeting.