Vietnam, EU hold ninth PCA negotiation round

Vietnam and the European Union (EU) began the ninth round of negotiations for the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Brussels on Sept. 10.

The Vietnamese delegation to the negotiation is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and the EU side is headed by James Moran, Director for Asia in the European Commission’s Directorate General for External Relations.

The two sides are expected to deal with existing issues, including a provision regarding “common principles”, especially in the economic sector, and other provisions relating to cooperation in trade and investment, immigration, and dealing with the aftermath of war, mine clearance and law.

The ninth negotiation round, to close on Sept. 13, took place on the threshold of the eighth Asia-Europe Summit expected to open in early October and in the context that Vietnam and the EU are preparing to mark the 20 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

In the spirit of cooperation and respect for each other’s position, the two sides reached vital progress in the past eight negotiations with the aim of ending the talks later this year.

Vietnam-EU PCA negotiations, following an EU request, started in early 2008.- VNA

Tags: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement