General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam held talks with European Council President Antonio Costa during his official visit to the European Union. Both sides pledged to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expand cooperation in emerging areas.
Costa welcomed To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation and recalled his positive impressions of Vietnam and the warm reception during his visit in early January. He said the reunion reflected growing political trust and affirmed that Vietnam was an important Indo-Pacific partner for the EU.
Costa said the two sides could build on political trust and their cooperation record to deepen the partnership and deliver tangible benefits. To Lam, making his first EU visit in his new capacity, praised the European Council and Costa for shaping EU priorities, promoting unity among member states, and strengthening the bloc's autonomy and resilience.
To Lam said Vietnam regarded the EU as a top priority partner with shared interests and long-term cooperation potential. He called for commitments to become concrete results and projects supporting development and people's livelihoods.
The leaders welcomed progress after more than 36 years of diplomatic ties, particularly the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2026. They agreed to strengthen high-level dialogue and contacts and expand work in the green transition, innovation, strategic infrastructure and the circular economy.
Sharing a vision for a green maritime economy, ocean protection and maritime security, the leaders agreed to explore maritime economic cooperation as a potential new pillar of bilateral relations.
Trade, investment and connectivity
To Lam called for deeper economic, trade and investment ties and more effective use of the Vietnam EU Free Trade Agreement. He thanked the EU for recognising Vietnam's efforts and removing the country from Annex I of its list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
He called for closer coordination on longstanding issues, including lifting the EU's yellow card warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by Vietnam and early ratification of the EU Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.
Costa reaffirmed the EU's commitment to substantive cooperation and cited programmes including Global Gateway as potential support for quality investment, sustainable connectivity infrastructure and the energy transition.
The EU was also ready to expand cooperation and capacity building in maritime security and safety, cybersecurity and crisis management, while coordinating responses to climate change and emerging technological challenges, including artificial intelligence. Costa said cooperation would reflect both sides' needs, priorities and shared interests.
Multilateralism and maritime security
The leaders discussed regional and international issues and agreed to strengthen multilateral exchanges and coordination, uphold multilateralism, the UN Charter and international law, and use ASEAN EU relations to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Indo-Pacific.
Costa said the EU valued stronger ASEAN ties and regarded Vietnam as a leading partner as the two blocs work to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2027, the 50th anniversary of their dialogue.
He reaffirmed EU support for ASEAN centrality and for ASEAN and Vietnam's positions on peaceful dispute settlement under international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Both sides stressed the importance of peace, stability, security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the seas and oceans.
The talks reaffirmed Vietnam and the EU's commitment to strengthening their strategic partnership, expanding practical cooperation and contributing to a rules-based international order amid regional and global challenges.
Sources: Viet Nam News
