On the afternoon of November 27, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation from the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), led by Mr. Jens Rubbert - Chairman of EU-ABC and Mr. Bruno Jaspaert - Chairman of EuroCham, along with nearly 40 leading EU enterprises visiting and working in Vietnam. Also attending was EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier.
Vietnam becomes ASEAN's fourth largest economy
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated EuroCham on successfully organizing the Green Economy Forum 2025 (GEF 2025) in Hanoi; at the same time, assessed the working trip of the EU Business Delegation and the organization of the above forum as very meaningful, taking place on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the EU (November 28, 1990 - November 28, 2025).
The Vietnamese Government highly appreciates the practical and effective contributions of EU-ABC, EuroCham and member enterprises to the development of Vietnam and the Vietnam-EU and ASEAN-EU relations. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister stated that the Vietnamese Government highly values and appreciates the practical and effective contributions of EU-ABC, EuroCham and member enterprises to the socio-economic development of Vietnam and the Vietnam-EU and ASEAN-EU relations in recent times.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the EU for providing 850,000 euros in aid to people in areas affected by recent floods in Vietnam; thanked the 88,000 euros in aid and welcomed the material and spiritual support and assistance from EU businesses.
The Prime Minister was delighted that the Vietnam-EU relationship has developed dynamically and substantially in many areas, and that Europe is a sincere and trustworthy friend, in which trade and investment are an important pillar of cooperation. Leaders of Vietnam and the EU regularly maintain contacts and exchange measures to promote strong cooperation.
The two sides are actively discussing the content and roadmap for upgrading the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, creating a new framework to strongly promote trade and investment cooperation in the coming period. In the context of the complicated world and regional situation, Vietnam and the EU in general and the business communities of both sides must strengthen cooperation.
Announcing the main features of Vietnam's situation, the Prime Minister said that after nearly 40 years of renovation, Vietnam has become the fourth largest economy in ASEAN and the 32nd in the world.
By 2025, GDP is estimated to increase by over 8%, reaching over 510 billion USD, GDP per capita reaching about 5,000 USD, officially joining the group of upper middle-income countries; international trade scale reaching nearly 900 billion USD.
Vietnam aims to become a developing country with modern industry and high average income by 2030; and a developed country with high income by 2045. To achieve the above goals, Vietnam has recently had strategic policies and decisions, creating turning points to "turn the situation around and change the state" with the spirit of taking people and businesses as the center...
To develop rapidly, greenly, sustainably, inclusively, create favorable conditions, and help investors feel secure, Vietnam will maintain political stability, social order and security, stability for development, development for stability; promote green transformation, digital transformation, development based on science and technology, and innovation.
Vietnam is determined to implement three strategic breakthroughs with the spirit of open institutions to reduce compliance costs, smooth infrastructure to reduce input costs, increase competitiveness of goods, human resource training and smart governance to meet development needs.
The Prime Minister is delighted that the Vietnam-EU relationship is developing dynamically and substantially in many areas, and that Europe is a sincere and trustworthy friend. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.
3 commitments and 3 guarantees of the Vietnamese Government
In the current context, Vietnam prioritizes maintaining macroeconomic stability, controlling inflation, ensuring major economic balances, promoting growth, striving for GDP growth of 8% in 2025 and double digits in the coming years.
To further promote bilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister suggested that the EU and the EU business community coordinate to effectively implement the EVFTA, further open each other's markets, and maintain each other's position as the two leading trade partners. At the same time, strengthen cooperation in the EU's areas of strength, such as green transformation, digital transformation, clean agriculture, high-quality human resource training, science and technology, innovation, etc.
Vietnam welcomes European businesses to invest in Vietnam in high-tech projects, artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips, green growth, renewable energy, transport and environmental infrastructure, smart cities, marine economy (seaports, logistics, offshore wind power...).
The Prime Minister suggested that businesses should have a voice in urging the remaining seven EU member countries to complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) this year to create a new breakthrough in the investment field between the two sides.
Regarding the IUU "yellow card" , the Prime Minister said that in recent times, Vietnam has been determined and resolute in fighting against IUU fishing, with weekly meetings chaired by the Prime Minister. Vietnam's legal framework against IUU fishing has been built and completed in accordance with international standards. Vietnam will strictly handle IUU fishing violations with very high penalties; strengthen tight control over fleet management and seafood origin, and prevent illegal seafood from escaping.
The Prime Minister expressed his hope that the European Business Association would have a voice in urging the EC to soon remove the IUU yellow card on Vietnam's seafood exports, contributing to ensuring supply for the EU market; at the same time, promote cooperation with Vietnam on the marine economy, develop sustainable fisheries, support fishermen to adapt to responsible fishing regulations, and convert their occupation from fishing to sustainable aquaculture.
Continue to support Vietnam in responding to climate change, warning systems, and natural disaster response; provide maximum support to Vietnam in terms of capital, technology, and human resource training to effectively implement the Joint Statement on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between Vietnam and the International Partnership Group to realize the commitment to bring net emissions to zero by 2050; increase support activities for Vietnamese enterprises to meet the implementation of new EU regulations on green development.
The Vietnamese Government commits to "3 guarantees": ensuring that the foreign-invested economic sector is an important component of the Vietnamese economy; ensuring the legitimate and legal rights and interests of investors; ensuring political stability, social order and safety; and institutions, mechanisms and policies to attract investment.
And "3 together": listening and understanding between businesses, the State and the people; sharing vision and actions to cooperate and support each other for rapid and sustainable development; working together, winning together, enjoying together, developing together; sharing joy, happiness and pride with the business community and investors in general, including European businesses and investors.
In the spirit of "A creative State, pioneering enterprises, public-private partnership, national development, and people's benefits", the Prime Minister asked European enterprises to continue to trust and stick with Vietnam in the process of accelerated and breakthrough development, contributing to the realization of the two 100-year goals.
Regarding the specific proposals and recommendations of EU enterprises, the Prime Minister fully acknowledged and said that many of them have been handled. The Government is continuing to direct ministries and branches to urgently synthesize, research, and absorb the valid proposals and recommendations of enterprises; and to handle them thoroughly with the spirit of "6 clear", especially with wind power and solar power projects facing difficulties.
Over the past time, the EU has continued to be one of Vietnam's leading important trade and investment partners, while Vietnam is the EU's largest trade partner in ASEAN.
The implementation of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has helped two-way trade maintain a positive growth momentum, averaging 10-15% per year. Two-way trade turnover in the first 9 months of 2025 reached 54.6 billion USD, up 8.4% over the same period last year.
In terms of investment, the EU is currently the 7th largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 2,743 valid projects, with a total registered capital of nearly 32 billion USD accumulated up to the end of September 2025.
Nguyen Hanh
Source: https://congthuong.vn/thu-tuong-de-nghi-doanh-nghiep-eu-dong-hanh-cung-viet-nam-but-pha-432402.html
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