Vietnam keen to deepen strategic partnership with Germany

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the statement at a reception for outgoing Ambassador Guido Hildner in Hanoi on June 12, during which he suggested Germany ramp up cooperation with Vietnam in labour, employment, education-training and energy transition, among other fields.

Germany remains Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in the European Union (EU) and one of the largest EU investors in the country, with last year’s bilateral trade surpassing US$ 11 billion.

Germany ranks 18th out of the 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, while Vietnam is also one of Germany’s biggest trade partners in the ASEAN and fifth in Asia, Chinh told his guest.

The Vietnamese Government chief noted his appreciation for Germany’s support for Vietnam’s socio-economic development over more than three decades, particularly its identification of Vietnam as a global partner in the Development Cooperation Strategy 2030 with the three priorities of energy, environment and vocational training.

Hailing Germany’s support for Vietnam’s joining of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), Chinh called on the country to go ahead with its closer cooperation in the implementation of the partnership.

He asked Germany to grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students, and boost collaboration in vocational training and high-quality personnel development, suggesting both nations should continue working hand in hand in realizing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) once it becomes effective.

Chinh took the occasion to appeal to Germany to urge the European Commission (EC) to remove its “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood.

In response, Hildner applauded Vietnam’s development over the past years, especially in green, sustainable development, while affirming his nation’s readiness to receive Vietnam’s skilled labourers and admit more Vietnamese students.

German appreciates Vietnam’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, and hopes to play a more active role in the Southeast Asian nation’s energy transition, including its implementation of agreements within the JETP, the ambassador stated.

Regarding regional and international issues of shared concern, the two sides agreed upon fundamental principles and respect for international law to maintain and promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the wider world.

They underscored the need to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and settle disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Source: VOV