Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam has expressed hisdelight at the fruitful development of relations between Vietnam and theEuropean Union (EU) over the past years, especially in trade and investment.

Duringa reception in Hanoi on October 30 for Chairmanof the European Parliament (EP)'s Committee on International Trade Bernd Lange, Lamspoke highly of the role of the EU, EP and Lange in facilitating the signing ofthe EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU - Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (IPA) in late June 2019.

Hewished that Lange and members of the committee would support the ratificationof the two agreements as soon as possible.

Lamsaid once approved, the EVFTA will open up a new period of bilateral economiccooperation, adding that the Vietnamese National Assembly plans to approve thedeal in the first half of 2020.

Vietnamhas so far joined 16 FTAs, 11 of them have become effective, and most recentlythe Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP), proving the country’s global integration policy, its important geo-politicalposition on the regional and global arena, he said.

Lamsaid cooperative ties between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and EUmember states have been developing fruitfully and reaped important achievementsin the fight against trans-national crime over the past years.

Theminister affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security wouldcontinue working closely with the EU and EP in crime prevention and control,and cyber security.

Lange,for his part, said the EP and the Committeeon InternationalTrade in particular will continue expanding collaborationwith the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in fields of shared concern./.