On the afternoon of February 18, liming Huan, Minister of agriculture and rural development of Vietnam, met with Frans Timmermans, executive vice president of the European Commission.
According to the Vietnam News Agency, during the meeting, Minister Liming Huan said that Vietnam had issued the vision of agriculture and rural sustainable development strategy for 2021-2030 and 2050. In formulating the strategy, Vietnam referred to the EU’s policies on green agreement, safe, healthy and environment-friendly food chain strategy, circular economy and biodiversity. Minister Liming Huan hoped that the EU would provide financial and technical assistance to Vietnam to help Vietnam implement the plan to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
For the trade activities of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, Minister Liming Huan said that the EU is the third largest market for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products in Vietnam. Against the background of the complex and unpredictable epidemic situation, the bilateral trade volume of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products reached US $5.2 billion in 2021, an increase of more than 14% over 2020.
Vietnam’s minister of agriculture and forestry proposed to create favorable conditions for Vietnam’s entry into the EU’s free trade agreement on water (EVA) and continue to implement the EU’s FTA; Coordinate and support Vietnam to complete and well operate Vietnam’s timber legitimacy guarantee system (vntlas) in order to export timber licensed by “forest law enforcement, governance and trade” (FLEGT) to the EU as soon as possible. The EU continues to support and coordinate with relevant institutions in Vietnam to agree on the contents of animal and plant health and quarantine measures (SPS).
Frans Timmermans, executive vice president of the European Commission, said that the two sides can find the direction of common development, and trade is the core factor. The two sides will implement the commitments in the trade agreement, jointly promote cooperation and promote the development of trade activities in a sustainable manner without negative impact on the environment.
In order to promote the development of bilateral trade activities, Mr. Frans Timmermans proposed that Vietnam approve the registration documents for the export of fruits, animal products and other agricultural products from the EU to Vietnam as soon as possible.
With regard to the yellow card warning of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the European community, Minister Liming Huan proposed that the European community continue to support Vietnam and recognize Vietnam’s efforts to lift the IUU yellow card warning as soon as possible.
Mr. Frans Timmermans said that Vietnam had taken very strict legal measures to realize the European Community’s recommendations on combating IUU fishing. However, in order to lift the yellow card warning as soon as possible, the two sides still need to further clarify technical issues.
Source: Vietnam people’s daily
Post time: Feb-24-2022