The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Policy Security Minister Josep Borrell said he wants to start work on upgrading diplomatic relations with Vietnam and added that the EU could help the Asian country strengthen its capabilities in the field of maritime security and cyber defense, Reuters reported, as quoted by BTA.
During a meeting in Hanoi, Borel and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son discussed the problems in the South China Sea, Ukraine and the financing of the energy transition.
„I would like my visit to be the beginning of a process of upgrading our relations”, Borel said after the meeting.
He stressed that the EU supports compliance with international law in the South China Sea, as well as in Ukraine. Some governments of EU countries believe that the Vietnamese position on Ukraine is too close to the Russian one.
Borrell said he urged Vietnam to speed up the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership and reduce coal use.
Vietnam's foreign minister said that he has requested financial support from the EU for the implementation of the Partnership, adding that Hanoi welcomes the Union to play a more active role in the region.