35 years of Vietnam-European Union relations: Achievements, challenges and prospects

Delegates attending the conference took a souvenir photo. (Photo: KHÁNH LINH)

The workshop aimed to look back on the 35-year meaningful journey, share multi-dimensional assessments of the achievements and issues arising in the current period; and discuss appropriate cooperation orientations in the new context, contributing to promoting the Vietnam-EU relationship to develop more substantially and effectively in the coming time.

Attending the workshop, on behalf of Vietnamese delegates were: Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; Mr. Bui Ha Nam , Director of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Vu Quang Minh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador of Vietnam to the Federal Republic of Germany, ... and representatives of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Diplomatic Academy, institutes under and affiliated to the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

On the international side, there were: Mr. Rafael de Bustamante, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam; Mr. Philipp Agathonos, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Vietnam; Ms. Helga Margarete Barth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam; Mr. Wojciech Kusak, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs, Embassy of Poland to Vietnam; Mr. Oscar Staffas Edstrom, Head of Trade and Promotion Section, Embassy of Sweden to Vietnam; Mr. Pierre du Ville, Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation to Vietnam; Mr. Lewe Paul, Head of the KAS Institute in Vietnam...

Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences , delivered the opening speech at the conference. (Photo: KHÁNH LINH)

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, stated: From 1990, when Vietnam and the European Community established diplomatic relations, to the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the two sides (FCA) in July 1995, the signing of the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 2012 and especially the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) in 2019, the Vietnam-European Union relationship has made steady progress together on the basis of respect, understanding and mutual benefit.

We have the right to be optimistic when looking at the outstanding results achieved over the past 35 years. Political trust has been strengthened through high-level visits, regular dialogues and effective consultation mechanisms between Vietnam and many European Union (EU) member countries. Economy, trade and investment have developed strongly, with two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and the EU in 2024 reaching 68.4 billion USD, up 16.8% over the same period in 2023; the EU continues to be Vietnam's third largest trading partner and second largest export market. Development cooperation (ODA) has achieved many sustainable results: the EU and its member countries, especially Germany and Sweden, support Vietnam in climate change, renewable energy, public administration and sustainable agriculture.

Cooperation in science, technology and innovation has deepened through programs such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and many EU-funded research projects in Vietnam. Education, training and people-to-people exchanges have developed strongly, with tens of thousands of Vietnamese students studying in Europe, and a large and active overseas Vietnamese network promoting cooperation between the two sides. Many programs connecting localities, businesses and universities have been expanded, from research cooperation, vocational training to smart urban development, clean agriculture, digital transformation and green economy.

“These achievements are the crystallization of many generations, of mutual respect and of the determination to cooperate substantially for the common interests of both Vietnam and Europe,” Professor, Dr. Le Van Loi emphasized.

In particular, according to the President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in that 35-year journey, social sciences and humanities have a special role: connecting memories with the future, transforming collaborative experiences into knowledge, into policy recommendations to help both sides understand each other better and choose more suitable approaches. The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences has always been an open space for scholars, policymakers and businesses to exchange frankly and substantively.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Director of the Institute for European and American Studies, spoke at the conference. (Photo: KHÁNH LINH)

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Director of the Institute for European and American Studies (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) said that as a research unit of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Institute for European and American Studies always considers research on Vietnam-EU relations as a focus to support the country's international integration process. Today's workshop is an opportunity to review the 35-year Vietnam-EU relationship, clarify the opportunities and challenges ahead to further promote cooperation between the two sides.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Rafael de Bustamante, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, stated: Over the past 35 years, Vietnam has become one of the EU's most dynamic and reliable partners in Asia. Today, Vietnam plays a leading role in ASEAN and is a key country in the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy. We are proud that the EU and Vietnam have established the richest system of bilateral cooperation documents compared to other Southeast Asian countries, from politics, trade and investment to defense and security. This demonstrates the maturity and depth of the two sides' shared strategic vision.

Mr. Rafael de Bustamante, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam, speaking at the workshop. (Photo: KHÁNH LINH)

"In the coming time, the EU and Vietnam are working closely to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides have great potential for extensive cooperation in green transformation, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and the development of future industries such as semiconductors," Mr. Rafael de Bustamante emphasized.

The international conference: “35 years of Vietnam-EU relations: achievements, challenges and prospects” consists of two sessions. The first session focuses on the development of Vietnam-EU relations and the relationship between Vietnam and some EU member states such as France, Germany, Poland and Sweden. This is an opportunity to comprehensively review 35 years of cooperation. The second session discusses strategic cooperation areas such as investment, science and technology, innovation, people-to-people diplomacy and the role of the European Union in the Indo-Pacific region.

With the participation of many ambassadors, diplomats, representatives of state management agencies, research institutes and the business community, and representatives of international organizations, the workshop actively discussed and frankly exchanged issues arising in the Vietnam-EU relationship, deeply analyzed and proposed new cooperation directions in green transformation, digital economy, innovation and sustainable development. The exchanges at the workshop will be an important reference source for policy making and promoting bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in the coming time.

KHANH LINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/35-year-quan-he-viet-nam-lien-minh-chau-au-thanh-tuu-thach-thuc-va-trien-vong-post927636.html