Ambassador Urges Europe to Lift “Yellow Card” On Vietnamese Seafood

Ambassador Pham Toan Thang spoke at the opening session of the FVFPG (Photo: Bao Quoc Te).

On 2 March, at the headquarter of the French National Assembly, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang attended the opening session of the new FVFPG in the French National Assembly.

This is the first official meeting of the FVFPG to identify objectives, exchange ideas and outline plans of action in 2023.

Attending the session were Group President Anne le Hénanff, 4 Vice-Presidents including André Chassaigne, Éric Coquerel, Hadrien Ghomi, Luc Lamirault, and several parliamentarians who were members of the FVFPG.

Expressing his delight and pride in the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and the two peoples and highly appreciating the role of the FVFPG in the French National Assembly in strengthening bilateral ties, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang briefed the parliamentarians on the current situation in Vietnam, recent Vietnam-France relations as well as Vietnam’s development goals in the coming time.

As the year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership, the Ambassador urged the FVFPG to continue playing a part in promoting the implementation of significant events such as the exchange of high-level delegations and encouraging French local governments to actively participate in the 12th Vietnam-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference to be held from 13-15 April in Hanoi.

At the same time, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang proposed that the parliamentarians support the Vietnamese community living in France, and encourage French businesses and investors to pay more attention to the Vietnamese market whose potential and demands are well suited to the strengths of French partners.

Regarding Vietnam-EU relations, the Ambassador asked the FVFPG to push for the early approval of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the French National Assembly and persuade the European Commission to consider removing the yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.

Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang took a photo with leaders of the FVFPG (Photo: Bao Quoc Te).

The French parliamentarians displayed affection for Vietnam and the Vietnamese community living and working in France. They also shared ideas for organizing seminars, and cultural, sports, and business activities to introduce and promote Vietnam and enhance public understanding of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between France and Vietnam.

The 16th FVFPG in the French National Assembly was newly established in February, consisting of 50 members, including 1 President, 10 Vice Presidents, and 39 members who are parliamentarians representative of various parties and constituencies in different localities of France.

The two FVFPGs in the French National Assembly and Senate assume the role of actively and effectively supporting the implementation of initiatives and activities to increase understanding and improve cooperation between the legislative bodies of Vietnam and France. This is also an important factor and channel for the promotion of multifaceted and multi-field cooperation between the two countries and the two peoples.