The delegation held working sessions with the EP Vice Chairman, representatives of the EU’s trade and diplomatic agencies and EP parliamentarians’ groups for friendship with ASEAN countries.

In the UK , the delegation had meetings with parliamentarians, the UK Parliament’s representatives in the International Parliament Union (IPU), and representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

During the meetings, the hosts and guests exchanged notes on Vietnam ’s socio-economic development achievements over the past time, especially in poverty reduction and protection of human rights.

Officials from the EU, EP and UK Parliament said they wish to strengthen ties with Vietnam in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, and speed up negotiations on a Free Trade Area (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

They expressed hope that negotiations on the Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam will complete in 2010 and said they will support Vietnam as the 2010 ASEAN Chair and the Vietnamese NA as the Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in the 2009-2010 term.

The UK side said it wants boost relations with Vietnam in economics, trade and education and strengthen cooperation in addressing such issues as trans-national crime and immigration.

The Vietnamese delegation congratulated the EU on its ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, marking a new phase in the unification of Europe . They said they hope for an early signing of the PCA and faster negotiations for the FTA with the ASEAN and each country in the region.

Vietnam asked the EU to give market economy status for Vietnam and lift anti-dumping tax on a number of Vietnamese goods imported to the EU.

The delegation agreed to strengthen dialogues and information exchange on issues of common interest, including democracy, religion and human rights in Vietnam, for better mutual understanding, thus enhancing their friendship and mutually-beneficial cooperation./.