Hanoi (VNA) - Representatives from theVietnamese National Assembly and the European Parliament (EP) discussed theimplementation of the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA),during an online meeting on December 2.

Since the deal took effect earlier this year, the VietnameseGovernment has issued a comprehensive plan for the EVFTA implementation. Eachministry, agency and locality has also embarked on their own plans.

Vietnam is also actively working with the EU to establishmechanisms to step up EVFTA implementation. The Vietnamese Government has issuedlegal documents guiding the effort, enhanced campaigns to raise publicawareness of the deal, and promptly tackled difficulties met by businesses andlocalities.

The Vietnamese NA units are also partnering with theGovernment to speed up the full and effective implementation of commitments inthe deal, boost parliamentary cooperation, and uphold its supervisory role inthe delivery of commitments.

Since August 1 when the deal went into force, Vietnam has exportedgoods worth 7.3 billion USD to the EU while spending around 3.7 billion USD onimports.

EP lawmakers spoke highly of Vietnam’s timely building oflaws related to the commitments in the deal. The two sides held that it isnecessary to intensify cooperation to boost the effective implementation of theagreement, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both sides also discussed the establishment of the DomesticAdvisory Groups to promote trade and sustainable development./.