To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of Vietnam, arrived in Brussels on Wednesday for an official visit to the European Union and Belgium, marking another sign of the expansion of bilateral relations.
Trade and Economic Agreements
This trip comes just days after the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Trade relations between Vietnam and Europe have significantly expanded in recent years, and the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which came into effect in August 2020, has notably broadened Vietnam's trade relations with most European countries.
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Amid global tariff wars, the relationship between Vietnam and the European Union is seen as a pleasant promotion for maintaining free markets. Experts believe that this relationship is beneficial for both sides: Vietnam offers Europe a stable manufacturing base and another base in the Asian supply chain, while Europe provides Vietnam with capital, technology, and a large market.
Challenges and Concerns Regarding Human Rights
The relationship between Vietnam and the European Union also faces challenges. There are many questions about whether European companies are benefiting sufficiently from Vietnam's economic growth and whether Brussels is paying enough attention to Vietnam's human rights record. Vietnam remains a one-party communist country that severely restricts political dissent, independent journalism, and civil society.
In an official letter sent this week to the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, 12 international human rights organizations expressed their serious concerns about the intensification of government crackdowns in Vietnam and urged EU leaders to demand meaningful reforms.
This comes as Vietnam committed to human rights, labor rights, and environmental standards during negotiations over the EVFTA and accompanying political agreements. However, human rights in the country have been at risk in recent years, and Vietnam has yet to ratify the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association.
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