The upcoming state visit to Denmark by To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam, is expected to generate fresh momentum for relations between the two countries and open cooperation opportunities aligned with the needs of both sides, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi said.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, he noted that it would be the first visit by Vietnam's top Party and State leader since the two countries established a comprehensive partnership in 2013 and a Green Strategic Partnership in 2023.
The visit comes as King Frederik X has been on the throne for just over two years and Denmark's new government, formed in June 2026, has been in office for slightly more than four months. Nghi said the timing showed the high level of political trust and the importance both countries attach to friendship and strategic cooperation.
Coinciding with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the visit will strengthen political trust, review more than five decades of bilateral ties and set the course for the next stage of cooperation.
Vietnam is entering a new phase of development with a growth model driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Its priorities include improving productivity, growth quality and economic competitiveness, accelerating the green and energy transitions, carrying out structural transformation and improving workforce quality.
Denmark is pursuing strategic autonomy and strengthening its focus on the Asia-Pacific, with Southeast Asia regarded as a priority region. For several decades, it has pursued policies on energy, the environment and sustainable development, building competitiveness through knowledge, technology, workforce quality and cooperation across society despite limited natural resources.
These are also areas in which Vietnam has substantial demand for cooperation. Denmark highly values Vietnam's determination to pursue the green transition and sustainable development, regarding the country as one of its leading partners in the shift towards a green economy, Nghi said.
After 55 years of bilateral ties, the two countries have reasons to be confident about future cooperation. Although they differ in size, development conditions and priorities, both aspire to build prosperous economies, improve quality of life and create a more sustainable future for future generations.
Vietnam-Denmark relations have been nurtured through high-level meetings and government commitments, as well as by people and businesses that see the benefits of cooperation.
The Foreign Investment Agency reported that Denmark had 180 valid investment projects in Vietnam as of the end of August 2026, with total registered capital of nearly 2.5 billion USD. Denmark ranked 21st among 154 countries and territories investing in the country.
A prominent example is LEGO Group's project to build the world's first carbon-neutral factory in Vietnam. Investment in the former Binh Duong province, now part of Ho Chi Minh City, exceeded 1 billion USD. The facility began operations in April 2025, creating around 4,000 jobs.
Major Danish and international companies in manufacturing, technology, maritime transport, logistics and renewable energy have also established a presence in Vietnam. They include Ecco, Pandora, A.P. Moller-Maersk, Danfoss, Mascot, Vestas and Carlsberg.
Most Danish projects focus on green manufacturing, social responsibility and wider economic benefits. They could serve as models for quality investment, showing Vietnam's determination to attract green projects and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This practical cooperation provides a foundation for strengthening bilateral relations.
Considerable potential remains untapped. The two countries see opportunities to expand cooperation in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind power, as well as maritime transport, smart logistics, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors and biomedicine.
Beyond investment, Nghi called for stronger cooperation in research, workforce training, technology development and business connectivity. Joint programmes should deliver measurable results, including stronger technological capabilities, lower emissions, more efficient resource use and additional quality jobs.
He hoped the visit would provide fresh impetus for collaboration in the maritime economy, including maritime transport, logistics and offshore wind power, as well as green technology, innovation, digital transformation, education and human resource development.
Nghi expected the visit to encourage businesses from both countries to expand investment, strengthen supply-chain links and develop projects with long-term value.
Denmark is among the world's most advanced economies and a global leader in offshore wind power, energy-transition technologies, renewable energy transmission and storage, and quantum technology.
Using the momentum in bilateral relations to advance cooperation in these fields would contribute to Vietnam's sustainable development. The two countries could also expand collaboration in parliamentary diplomacy, judicial affairs, culture, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.
Nghi stressed the need for stronger multilateral cooperation at the United Nations, in EU-ASEAN dialogue and in the Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, of which Vietnam and Denmark are both founding members.
People-to-people exchanges, cooperation among localities, universities and social organisations, and the role of the Vietnamese community in Denmark would remain essential to the long-term strength of bilateral relations.
Over 55 years, Vietnam and Denmark have built a foundation of friendship, trust and increasingly close cooperation. Their relationship is entering a new chapter centred on the green transition, innovation and sustainable development.
On that foundation, Vietnam and Denmark can work together to build a greener, more prosperous and more sustainable future.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
