Glasgow (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had bilateral meetings with AustralianPrime Minister ScottMorrison and President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines ofthe the 26th United Nations Climate ChangeConference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland (the UK), on November 1 (local time).

At the meeting with PM Morrison, the two leaders discusseda range of bilateral cooperation issues as well as coordination in regional andinternational matters of mutual concern.

PM Chinh thanked theAustralian Government and PM Morrison for timely donation of COVID-19 vaccine and medicalequipment to help Vietnam overcome the difficult period and hoped thatAustralia would continue assisting Vietnam in the future. PM Morrison said Australiawill donate an additional 3.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam.

PM Chinh stressedthat Vietnam attaches great importance to its relations with Australia andsuggested Australia increase the import of farm produce and other products fromVietnam, and continue assisting the Southeast Asian country in trafficinfrastructure, response to climate change, digital transformation andrenewable energy.

PM Morrison promised to joinhands with the Government of Vietnam to deploy measures to promote bilateralcooperation in a sustainable manner. He invited Vietnam to attend a cleanenergy supply chain summit to be hosted by Australia in  2022.

Regarding regionaland international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders agreed to closelymaintain cooperation at multilateral forums and shared the view on ensuringsecurity, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in seas and oceans,including the East Sea, based on the principles of international law.

PM Chinh took thisoccasion to invite PM Morrison to visit Vietnam soon and the Australian leaderaccepted the invitation with pleasure.

At his meeting withEC President vonder Leyen,PM Chinh affirmed that the European Union (EU) is one of the leading strategicpartners of Vietnam, adding that the EU plays an important role in security,peace, economic and development issues in the region and the world as well.

He thanked the EUand its member nations for their timely support of COVID-19 vaccines andmedical equipment and expected that the EC will continue to assist Vietnam in gettingaccess to vaccines and medical supplies.

PM Chinh affirmedthat economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot in Vietnam-EU relationsand proposed the EU create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural and aquatic products, to enter the EU market.

The governmentleader suggested the EU urge its member states to complete the ratification of the EU-VietnamInvestment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to soon enforce the pact effectivelyand protect the legitimate benefits of businesses of both sides.

EC President vonder Leyen said the EU will continue aiding Vietnam via the direct export of COVID-19vaccines and the COVAX Facility. Having expressed her support for PM Chinh’s proposals, sheapplauded Vietnam’s commitment and contributions to the fight against climate change.

Regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, PM Chinh said he haddirected provinces and cities to strictly implement regulations on combatingIUU fishing and take drastic measures to prevent illegal fishing. He proposedthe EC consider removing its “yellow card”, provide technical assistance forand help Vietnam carry out solutions to combat IUU fishing, thereby contributingto ensuring livelihoods for fishermen and undisrupted supplies for the EUmarket.

The EC Presidentsaid she was glad to hear the information and pledged to direct EU agencies toconsider Vietnam’s proposal on lifting the “yellow card”./.