European MPs visit VN to expand co-operation

HA NOI — European parliamentarians should inquire more into the current situation of Viet Nam so that they would give greater support to the country's development, said Vice Chairperson of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tong Thi Phong to her guests from the European Parliament.

A warm welcome was given to the visiting delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The group was headed by Wermer Langen. Phong stressed that Viet Nam attached importance to its ties with the European Union (EU), which includes the European Parliament (EP).

"The country appreciates EP members' contributions to co-operative relations for peace, stability and mutual understanding throughout the world," Phong said, affirming that Viet Nam had consistently respected, protected and cared for its citizens' legitimate rights and interests.

There remain large potentials for co-operation between the National Assembly and the EP, she said, which drew her guests' attention to the areas where Viet Nam needs assistance from the EP, such as law building, settling trade-related issues and creating conditions for increased economic and investment co-operation.

She suggested the two sides promote the exchange of visits in order to enhance communication about their experience. She also asked the EP to increase its assistance to Viet Nam's development in order to strengthen the capabilities of the National Assembly deputies.

As representatives of the people, parliamentarians on both sides should enhance their information exchanges, Phong said, adding that she hoped that after this three-day visit, the EP delegation would fully disclose Viet Nam's situation to the EU, including those issues on culture, education and religion.

For his part, Wermer Langen expressed his belief that the fruitful ties between the EP and the Vietnamese National Assembly would see further development in the future. He spoke of the EP's willingness to enhance co-operation with its Vietnamese counterpart, while stressing the need to increase ties in culture and education.

Other visitors said that the bilateral ties between the EP and Viet Nam's National Assembly, and also between the EP and the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), would improve after Viet Nam took the AIPA chairmanship in 2010.

During the talks yesterday, Nguyen Van Son, head of the NA Committee for External Affairs, gave a brief of the all-round development in Viet Nam and affirmed that the country respected its equal partnership and comprehensive co-operation with the EU for peace and development in the region and elsewhere in the world.

Both sides spoke of their wish to further develop bilateral relations with the European guests proposing that Viet Nam, as chairman of ASEAN and AIPA this year, would make active contributions to boosting ties between the EU and ASEAN.

The EP delegation yesterday also spoke with Nguyen Van Thuan, chairman of the Vietnamese NA Law Committee, about sharing information and experiences concerning legislative infrastructure. — VNS