The European Commission (EC) has signed an agreement to provide Vietnam with EUR400 million in development aid from now to 2020 during the recent talks between EC President Manuel Barroso and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Brussels. During the meeting, PM Dung emphasized the need to finalize the framework Vietnam - European Union (EU) partnership and cooperation agreement. He also suggested the EU recognize Vietnam as a market economy soon. Mr. Dung affirmed that Vietnam, as a coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations, supports the formation of the ASEAN – EU strategic partnership as well as the EU’s involvement in regional issues in which the ASEAN plays a key role. The two countries pledged to boost Vietnam-EU cooperation in healthcare, education, personnel training, environment and climate change. Last year, the EU disbursed EUR456 million of development aid for Vietnam, remaining the leading provider of official development assistance (ODA) in Vietnam, according to the Blue Book 2014. (Tuoi Tre News Oct 14, VietNamNet Oct 14, Lao Dong – Labor Oct 14)
