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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Director General for Asia- Pacific of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Niclas Kvarnström. |
Vietnam and the EU held the 5th Joint Committee Meeting on 22 October in Hanoi to review bilateral relations and cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Both sides welcomed the strong and diverse development of the relationship, evidenced by a vibrant agenda of meetings and visits, including at the highest levels.
Based on recent contacts between the two leaders and towards the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, Vietnam and the EU have agreed to work together to upgrade bilateral relations in the coming time.
In this context, Vietnam and the EU have agreed to discuss, develop and deepen cooperation in new areas such as a just energy transition and connectivity, including transport, digital transformation, critical materials, semiconductors, research and innovation and education. This cooperation can open up new potential and momentum in Vietnam-EU relations, bringing benefits to both sides.
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| The Vietnamese side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang. |
The EU announced new policies under the EU Green Deal, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EU Deforestation Reduction Regulation (EUDR), including a proposed 12-month transition period for the latter. The EU welcomed Vietnam’s positive approach to the EUDR and Vietnam expressed its gratitude for the support measures to help Vietnamese suppliers comply with the new regulations.
The Joint Committee also facilitated discussions on ASEAN-EU relations, as well as a range of political and security issues in the Indo-Pacific region and others. Vietnam and the EU discussed the tense situation in the Middle East, the South China Sea and Myanmar, agreeing on the need to seek peaceful solutions based on international law and the United Nations Charter. On the South China Sea issue, both sides expressed deep concern over recent developments and reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight, emphasizing the need for parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Regarding Ukraine, Vietnam and the EU reiterated their respective positions, stressing the importance of achieving comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in Ukraine in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law. The two sides also committed to strengthening security and defense cooperation through the Vietnam-EU Defense and Security Dialogue.
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| Vietnam and EU hold the 5th Joint Committee Meeting. |
Vietnam and the EU also discussed trade and investment, including tax cooperation, and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement to the mutual benefit of both sides. They reviewed progress in the fisheries sector, including ongoing activities related to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. They looked forward to strengthening cooperation on connectivity and sustainable development, in particular within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, with a special focus on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), with a commitment to go further to accelerate the green energy transition in Vietnam in line with Vietnam’s net zero emissions targets. They shared their positions and objectives for upcoming international negotiations on climate, environment and biodiversity to build initiatives for global sustainable development.
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| The EU delegation was led by Mr. Niclas Kvarnström, Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS). |
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang. The EU delegation was led by Mr. Niclas Kvarnström, Director General for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service (EEAS). Also attending were representatives from Vietnamese ministries and sectors, representatives from the European Commission and EU member states.
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