HCMC – Vietnam and Greece agreed on March 2 to strengthen parliamentary cooperation, expand trade and investment, and coordinate more closely at multilateral forums.
The commitment was made during talks in Hanoi between National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai and Ioannis Plakiotakis, first vice president of the Greek Parliament, who is in Vietnam for an official visit.
Hai called for deeper cooperation between the two legislatures to create a stronger foundation for bilateral ties. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization, and its commitment to deeper international integration.
He expressed Vietnam’s desire to further strengthen engagement with the European Union and urged Greece to continue supporting and actively participating in that process. Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge to promote cooperation between Greece and ASEAN, as well as between the Greek Parliament and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).
On economic ties, Hai noted that 21 of the 27 EU member states have ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He urged Greece’s parliament to support efforts to encourage the remaining EU members to complete ratification so the agreement can take effect. He also called on Greece to support moves within the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Both sides agreed to step up trade and investment promotion and explore cooperation in areas including labor, pharmaceuticals and the possibility of opening a direct air route between the two countries. Vietnam also asked Greece to continue facilitating stable conditions for the Vietnamese community there.
Regarding inter-parliamentary ties, Hai proposed closer coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership. He also called on Greece to back ASEAN and Vietnam’s position on the East Sea, including maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, and resolving disputes in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Plakiotakis described Vietnam as one of Greece’s leading partners in Southeast Asia and expressed a desire to expand cooperation through both parliamentary and government channels.
He welcomed progress in economic, trade and investment ties, as well as cooperation in maritime transport, shipbuilding, tourism and culture. Effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, he added, would be an important tool to further boost bilateral trade.
Plakiotakis also highlighted potential cooperation in infrastructure, human resource development and logistics, noting that stronger parliamentary relations would help advance broader bilateral cooperation.
