Joint Press Release

The European Union and Viet Nam held the fourth meeting of the Sub-Committee on Political Issues under the EU–Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement on 5 July in Brussels.

The EU and Viet Nam had a constructive exchange on domestic, regional and global issues. They exchanged on the latest political developments in the EU and Viet Nam, highlighting the recent European elections and the election of a new State President and a new Chair of the National Assembly in Viet Nam.

They discussed the latest state of play in the various areas of cooperation under the multifaceted EU-Viet Nam partnership in view of accelerating further progress, in particular with regard to the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement, the Investment Protection Agreement, the Just Energy Transition Partnership and programmes and development cooperation projects under the Global Gateway. The EU and Viet Nam reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their relationship in a number of areas, including trade, investment, climate change, environment, energy transition, digital, green and circular economy, security and defence. Both sides discussed sustainable fishery developments, including Viet Nam’s recent efforts in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).

The EU and Viet Nam underlined the importance of the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, noting that both the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific share relevant fundamental principles in promoting an open, inclusive, transparent and rules-based regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific region, in which ASEAN is central.

The EU and Viet Nam expressed concern about the recent developments in the South China Sea and reaffirmed the importance of peace, security, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 UNCLOS which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. They also underscored the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law. In this context, the EU reiterated its position on Ukraine, as reflected by the European Council Conclusions of 27 June 2024. Other regional issues addressed included the Mekong sub-regional cooperation and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.

The EU and Viet Nam agreed on the importance of the upcoming UN Summit for the Future as a key opportunity to reinvigorate the multilateral system. They also looked forward to contributing positively to other major upcoming events such as the COP29, the Second World Summit for Social Development, and the 4th Conference on Financing for Development.

The EU and Viet Nam expressed their mutual appreciation in holding a regular dialogue and looked forward to the next Joint Committee meeting under the EU-Viet Nam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which will take place in Hanoi in October 2024.

The meeting was co-chaired by Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the European External Action Service, and Le Vinh Thang, Deputy Director General of the Europe Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam.