EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier affirmed that Vietnam is a reliable and priority partner of the EU in the Asia- Pacific region; highly appreciated the increasing role and position of Vietnam.
On the afternoon of April 24, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, General Secretary To Lam received Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam Julien Guerrier.
At the meeting, General Secretary To Lam highly appreciated the sentiments, roles and contributions of the EU Ambassador and the EU Delegation to Vietnam in developing Vietnam-EU relations.
The General Secretary expressed his belief that with the efforts of both sides, the Vietnam-EU relationship will be increasingly consolidated, substantive and developed to new heights.
Affirming that the EU is one of the leading important partners in Vietnam's foreign policy, the General Secretary was pleased to see that after 35 years of establishing diplomatic relations (1990-2025), bilateral relations have developed dynamically and comprehensively in all fields.
The two sides are implementing 4 cooperation agreements and 8 dialogue mechanisms, from politics-diplomacy, trade-investment to defense-security... The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), after 5 years of implementation, has created a new momentum for bilateral trade, making Vietnam the EU's largest trading partner in ASEAN and the EU the 4th largest trading partner and 6th largest investor in Vietnam. Two-way trade turnover in 2024 will reach nearly 70 billion USD while EU investment in Vietnam will reach over 30 billion USD.
Expressing his honor and gratitude to General Secretary To Lam for taking the time to receive him, Ambassador Julien Guerrier congratulated Vietnam on its development achievements after 50 years of national reunification, affirming that Vietnam is a reliable and priority partner of the EU in the Asia-Pacific region; highly appreciating Vietnam's increasing role and position, especially in the context of Vietnam entering a new era.
Discussing measures to promote Vietnam-EU relations, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that 2025 is a year of special significance for both sides, marking 35 years of cooperation and development.
In the context of the current difficult global geopolitical and trade situation, more than ever, the two sides need to strengthen cooperation, consolidate political trust, increase thorough exchanges, agree on a roadmap to soon bring bilateral relations to a new level in a practical, quality direction, harmonizing the interests of both sides; promote delegation exchanges and high-level contacts; continue to more effectively implement the EVFTA to promote Vietnam-EU trade and investment.
The General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam advocates multilateralization, diversification, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners, including the EU and its member states, promoting balanced and sustainable trade and investment cooperation, towards realizing common sustainable development goals.
On that basis, the General Secretary welcomed the EU's interest in cooperating with Vietnam in the fields of green transformation, digital transformation, sustainable development, science and technology, innovation, renewable energy, sustainable transport infrastructure, defense industry, human resource training, law, etc., and suggested that the two sides coordinate to remove trade obstacles within the framework of the EVFTA, and agreed on the need to cooperate to improve the effectiveness of using EU development aid for Vietnam.
The General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam is steadfast in its goal of sustainable development, and that all the Party and State's policies and guidelines are aimed at serving the people. Emphasizing the importance of educational-training cooperation and people-to-people and youth exchanges between Vietnam and the EU, General Secretary To Lam suggested that both sides consider and facilitate visas for citizens of each side.
Regarding international and regional issues, the General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam is a peace-loving nation and an active and responsible member of the international community in resolving regional and global issues.
General Secretary To Lam and the Ambassador agreed that Vietnam and the EU both need to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world for development, and need to strengthen cooperation within the ASEAN-EU framework, ensuring peace and stability in the East Sea, an area of strategic significance for global trade.
Sharing the General Secretary's opinion on science, technology and innovation as resources for development and prosperity, the Ambassador affirmed that the EU wishes to support Vietnam in achieving its goal of becoming a developed country by 2045 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050; the EU wishes to promote cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of infrastructure, transportation, renewable energy, aerospace, telecommunications, and green transformation.
The Ambassador said that the EU and Vietnam share common interests in ensuring the international trade system and supply chains are not disrupted, ensuring stable growth and prosperity for each country.
On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam congratulated the Ambassador and the EU Delegation on the occasion of Europe Day (May 9); affirmed that Vietnamese ministries and sectors will actively coordinate and support the Ambassador to successfully complete his term of office in Vietnam./.
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