National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said the signing of co-operation agreements with the parliaments of Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and France is an outstanding result of his freshly-concluded tour of those countries.

In discussions, leaders of those European parliaments all emphasised the need to beef up ties with the Vietnamese National Assembly to meet each side’s demands and wishes, Chairman Trong told the press on his return to Hanoi on June 27.

Chairman Trong said he reached consensus with his European counterparts on almost all important political issues, including the promotion of bilateral and multilateral co-operation between Vietnam and the countries.

France, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, which are EU members and Vietnam’s traditional friends, all pledged to act as a bridge for Vietnam to penetrate into the vast European market, he said.

The NA Chairman said those countries highly valued Vietnam’s renewal achievements and prospects, and considered Vietnam an important partner, a big market and expressed eagerness to foster long-term co-operation with the country.

Chairman Trong noted that he reached agreements with his European counterparts on the promotion of their countries’ traditional co-operation to new heights in a strategic and mutual respect manner.

He said he received open support for Vietnam’s more comprehensive relationship with the EU during the trip, especially Romania ’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy and Hungary’s endorsement in almost all issues brought to the table.

The visits also helped the overseas Vietnamese communities in those countries, especially in France and Hungary, gain a thorough understanding of the situation in their homeland, particularly the performance of the legislative body, the NA Chairman said.

Chairman Trong also highlighted the company of a large number of businesses during his tour as an indication of local businesses’ growing interest in accelerating economic, trade, investment ties with those countries where they have not yet paid due attention to for a long time.

He said the promotion of the relationship with East European countries is a priority in the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, and in being a friend and trustful partner of all countries in the international community.

He stressed the effectiveness of activities related to foreign affairs undertaken by the National Assembly, saying this is the channel that helps the country get access to different parties, both governing and non-governing ones, and hear different viewpoints. (VNA)