EU's Borrell to discuss security, climate policy with Vietnam next week
22/07/2024 08:50
By Francesco Guarascio
HANOI, July 22 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy
chief Josep Borrell will visit Vietnam next week to discuss how
to boost cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in areas
including security and sustainable development, the EU
ambassador in Hanoi said.
Vietnam is an important trading partner for the European
Union (EU), attracting the attention of global powers as it
benefits from shifts in multinationals' supply chains caused by
growing tensions between the United States and China.
In a visit planned for July 29-31, Borrell will discuss with
Vietnamese authorities "how to further reinforce EU-Vietnam
cooperation in key areas for our mutual future sustainable
development and security," EU ambassador Julien Guerrier told
Reuters.
The EU and Vietnam have a free trade agreement in place
since 2020, which has turned the Asian industrial hub into the
EU's top trading partner in Southeast Asia for goods.
Several EU companies have made important investments in the
country, including Germany's engineering giant Bosch, Danish
toymaker Lego, French pharmaceutical group Sanofi SASY.PA and
Italy's motor bike manufacturer Piaggio PIA.MI . Shoemaker
Adidas has dozens of suppliers in Vietnam.
Hanoi has also signed a Just Energy Transition Partnership
with Western and Group of Seven (G7) nations, under which it is
eligible to receive billions of dollars in EU funds to reduce
its reliance on coal and boost renewables.
However, divisions remain on human rights and foreign
policy. Vietnam's abstention from condemning Russia's military
escalation in Ukraine is seen in some EU capitals as a position
too close to Moscow.
Vietnam's postponement in May of a visit to Hanoi by the
special envoy for the implementation of EU sanctions, David
O'Sullivan, attracted explicit criticism from the EU, as it was
seen as a favour to Russia.
Borrell, who is just at the end of his five-year tenure,
will ensure "irritants are solved," EU ambassador Guerrier said,
noting O'Sullivan's visit is now planned for September.
Borrell will visit Vietnam after attending a meeting in Laos
of foreign affairs ministers of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Since September, Hanoi has hosted state visits from U.S.
President Joe Biden, China's leader Xi Jinping and Russia's
President Vladimir Putin. No EU Commission President has visited
Vietnam in ten years, since Jose Manuel Barroso travelled to the
country in August 2014.
(Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Michael Perry)
((Francesco.Guarascio@thomsonreuters.com;))