General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen agreed in Copenhagen on October 20 to adopt a joint statement upgrading bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Frederiksen warmly welcomed Lam, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. She said the visit was significant as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, established in 1971. The visit showed political trust and a shared resolve to bring bilateral ties into a new phase.
The Danish Prime Minister congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in the Doi Moi renewal process, socio-economic development and international integration. She valued Vietnam's growing role and called it one of Denmark's key partners in Southeast Asia. Lam congratulated Denmark on its development achievements and noted its competitiveness, quality of life and leading position in green transition, renewable energy, science, technology and innovation.
The leaders were pleased that, over more than 55 years, friendship and cooperation had become deeper, more substantive and more diverse. The countries had evolved from development cooperation into trusted, equal and mutually beneficial partners, with the 2013 Comprehensive Partnership and 2023 Green Strategic Partnership as milestones.
The leaders agreed on a joint statement upgrading Vietnam-Denmark relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to expand cooperation for both peoples, peace, stability and sustainable development. Frederiksen noted that Denmark was the second EU country to establish this format with Vietnam.
To implement it, the leaders agreed to strengthen political trust through visits and Party, State and people-to-people contacts. They identified economic, trade and investment cooperation as an important pillar and agreed to advance the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, open markets, expand companies' participation in global value and supply chains, and increase bilateral trade.
Frederiksen praised Vietnam's investment and business environment and supported more Danish investment, especially in high-tech, environmentally friendly and high-value-added projects. Lam noted the contributions of LEGO, Maersk, Pandora, Carlsberg and Vestas and called for commitments to become concrete projects.
The leaders agreed to develop the Green Strategic Partnership, energy transition, climate cooperation, strategic infrastructure, ports, logistics, green maritime transport and supply-chain connectivity. Denmark is ready to share technology and help Vietnam develop renewable energy, improve efficiency, pursue a just transition and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Vietnam called for support for green finance, offshore wind power and the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
The sides agreed to cooperate in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, biomedicine and digital technology, and to strengthen links among universities, research institutes and businesses. They will expand cooperation in healthcare, the circular economy, smart cities, climate adaptation, culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Frederiksen noted the contribution of more than 18,000 Vietnamese people in Denmark.
The leaders agreed to strengthen coordination at the United Nations and other multilateral forums, uphold multilateralism and international law, and advance ASEAN-EU relations. Lam said Vietnam was ready to bridge cooperation between Denmark and ASEAN. He and Frederiksen agreed to direct agencies to implement the agreements for practical benefits. Lam invited Frederiksen to Vietnam, and she accepted. The sides then witnessed an exchange of cooperation documents.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
