Chief negotiator of the European Union (EU) for the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, Philip Meyer, said the EU wants to strengthen commercial relations with Vietnam. The EU is the second largest investor in Vietnam.

Mr. Philip Meyer

Philip Meyer is in Hanoi for a negotiation round on the signing of the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. The negotiation started in May 2007 and has not finished yet.

The EU negotiator told correspondents in Hanoi on January 20 that the negotiation is very slow and unsatisfactory. One of the hindrances, according to the EU, is the unequal development among ASEAN member countries.

In mid-2008, the 6^th round of negotiation between the EU and ASEAN for this agreement took place. In this round, Vietnam took the role of ASEAN’s coordinator. The EU hoped that the ongoing round in Hanoi will seek new method to solve difficulties.

About the Vietnam-EU trade relations, Meyer said the EU became the second largest trade partner of Vietnam in 2007 with two-way trade turnover of more than EUR 11 billion.

He said that Vietnam is a significant partner of the EU in terms of history and trade relations. He also said that the EU expects Vietnam to further open its market for goods and services.

Vietnam and the EU are negotiating the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a new framework for operation between the two sides, to replace the EU-Vietnam Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in 1995.

Linh Thu