Vietnamese PM pushes for signing of Vietnam-EU FTA in mid-2015
29/05/2015 40Vietnamese PM pushes for signing of Vietnam-EU FTA in mid-2015
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has pushed for the signing of the Vietnam-European Union (EU) free trade agreement (FTA) in mid-2015, describing it as a key milestone to lift bilateral ties. While meeting with Chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee Bernd Lange in Hanoi on Tuesday, Dung said the European Parliament plays a key role in the FTA adoption, signing and enforcement monitoring, reported Vietnam's state-run news agency VNA. The EU is one of the leading partners of Vietnam, Dung said, suggesting the bloc soon approve the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The Vietnamese prime minister also urged the EU's flexible approach in considering Vietnam's legitimate interests in areas of agriculture, fisheries, leather, footwear and garments in FTA negotiations. Bernd Lange, for his part, said the European Parliament will take note of Vietnam's proposals and believed that the FTA would be signed in the near future. He also spoke highly of Vietnam's commitments to and specific roadmap for FTA talks and enforcement, reported VNA. Vietnam and the EU announced the start of bilateral FTA negotiations in Brussels in June 2012. Earlier in January this year, the EU and Vietnam completed the 11th round of negotiations for the FTA.