After assuming the European Union (EU) presidency from January 1, 2009, the Czech Republic will continue to promote trade liberalisation between the EU and Asia in general and Vietnam in particular, said Czech ambassador to Vietnam Machal Kral.

At a press briefing in Hanoi on December 19, ambassador Kral affirmed that the Czech Republic and the EU will continue to give priority to Vietnam’s development needs.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will speed up negotiations for a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the EU in 2009.

At the briefing, Sean Doyle, ambassador and head of the European Commission in Vietnam, praised Vietnam’s efforts in fulfilling its commitments to the World Trade Organisations (WTO) as well as in disbursing official development assistance (ODA).

According to the ambassador, 74 percent of the ODA amount committed by the EU was disbursed in 2007 and the figure rose to 80 percent in 2008.

Source: VOV