General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam regards the European Union (EU) as one of its priority partners and wants to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more profound, substantive and effective manner.
At a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels on October 22, held during his official visits to the EU and Belgium, To Lam highlighted the importance Vietnam attaches to relations with the bloc and called for stronger cooperation in areas that can support the development goals of both sides.
To Lam expressed his pleasure at meeting von der Leyen again and praised her vision and determination to build a stronger and more autonomous Europe. He also welcomed EU strategies and initiatives aimed at improving competitiveness, advancing the green transition and digital transformation, and strengthening the bloc’s international role.
Sharing Vietnam’s development vision and major priorities for the coming period, To Lam stressed the country’s determination to achieve its strategic goals for 2030 and 2045 and pursue rapid and sustainable development. He said Vietnam would maximise its domestic strengths while proactively integrating into the international community and making effective use of external resources, knowledge, technology and experience.
On this basis, the Vietnamese leader called on both sides to capitalise on their complementary strengths and make science and technology, innovation and the energy transition key pillars of strategic cooperation to strengthen the autonomy, self-reliance and resilience of both economies.
To Lam also called for more effective use of cooperation opportunities offered by the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, the Just Energy Transition Partnership and the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. He stressed the need to accelerate priority cooperation programmes and projects, particularly in strategic infrastructure, scientific research and innovation.
Von der Leyen warmly welcomed the Vietnamese leader and the delegation during their official visit to the EU. She spoke highly of the positive progress in Vietnam-EU relations, particularly following the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
She said the EU considers Vietnam a reliable, like-minded partner in the Indo-Pacific region and expressed the bloc’s desire to work with Vietnam to implement the new partnership framework effectively, especially in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation and sustainable development.
The European Commission president highlighted Vietnam’s development potential and its increasingly important role in regional and global supply chains. She expressed interest in expanding cooperation on critical raw materials, including sustainable extraction and processing, technology development and supply-chain diversification, to support the green transition and digital transformation and improve competitiveness on both sides.
Von der Leyen said there is considerable room for cooperation in areas where the EU has strengths and Vietnam has development needs, including nuclear and renewable energy. The EU is also ready to support Vietnam’s ambition to become a regional transport and transit hub. She called for greater progress on recently signed cooperation projects, including the Bac Ai pumped-storage hydropower project, Lien Chieu Port in Da Nang and the renovation and preservation of Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi.
To Lam thanked von der Leyen for inviting him to attend and address the third Global Gateway Forum in June 2027. He said it was an important opportunity to expand cooperation in investment, strategic infrastructure and the energy transition.
The two leaders agreed to make better use of the special task force on implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement to further expand economic and trade ties. They also agreed to work towards the early removal of the EU’s yellow-card warning against Vietnamese seafood exports over illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
They pledged to strengthen cooperation in education and training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, while expanding collaboration in defence and security, crisis management, UN peacekeeping, maritime security and responses to non-traditional security challenges.
On regional and international issues, both leaders agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums, uphold multilateralism and international law, and promote free and unhindered trade. They underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to support peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world.
To Lam invited von der Leyen to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an early date.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
