Ambassador highlights significance of Vietnamese Prime Minister’s first official visit to Estonia

Ambassador Hannes Hanso made above statement on the threhold of the upcoming official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the Republic of Estonia from June 5-7.

The visit marks a historic milestone in the relationship between Viet Nam and Estonia following previous official visits of former Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and former Foreign Minister Sven Mikser to Viet Nam in 2011 and 2018, respectively.

This is first visit by the Prime Minister of Viet Nam to Estonia, symbolizing a strong mutual interest in deepening bilateral ties between the two countries. It also reflects the growing importance of Southeast Asia for Estonia, and the EU and Estonia's recognition of Viet Nam as a dynamic and strategic partner in the region.

The Ambassador said that as the world has become increasingly globalized, this is an excellent opportunity to discuss global and regional developments and our shared challenges.

"We see more and more how the security of the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions are interconnected. In an increasingly turbulent world, cooperation between regions, such as EU and ASEAN, is essential, and we hope for a renewed momentum in EU-ASEAN cooperation," Hannes Hanso said.

The visit would also help strengthen the mutual understanding between our societies and cooperation between our two governments.

He hoped that during the visit, several memoranda of understanding would be signed, particularly in areas such as digital transformation and political consultations.

We have particularly high expectations in the field of economic relations, especially in connection with the accompanying high-level business delegation, which will help establish business to business contacts and create new opportunities for entrepreneurship and investment.

Key milestones in Viet Nam-Estonia relations

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the ties between Viet Nam and Estonia have steadily progressed.

Key milestones include increased high-level and people-to-people contacts, growing trade volumes, and closer cooperation in multilateral forums such as the United Nations.

"During our tenure together as elected members in the UN Security Council 2020-21, both Viet Nam and Estonia had good cooperation in promoting the UN-based international order," Hannes Hanso said.

Estonia said the Ambassador values Viet Nam's constructive role in regional and international affairs, and our partnership has matured over time on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.

Potential fields for mutual cooperation

The EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement which offers a robust framework for expanding economic collaboration which also facilitates bilateral trade between the two countries. Thanks to the free trade agreement, we have witnessed continuous increase in trade between Estonia and Viet Nam and Viet Nam has become an essential part of supply chains for Estonian companies.

Other promising fields for economic cooperation include digital innovation, green technologies, education, logistics, and information technology.

Estonia's expertise in digital governance and start-up ecosystems could complement Viet Nam's growing digital economy. Viet Nam is Estonia's third largest destination of export of services among the SEA region and we see even greater potential for it. In addition to digital services and e-commerce, sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, consumer goods, and sustainable industries hold great potential for joint initiatives.

Estonia's experience in digital transformation is widely recognized and is proud to be a pioneer in digital transformation, having successfully digitalized 100 percent of public services. 

At its core is the X-Road system, enabling seamless and secure data exchange between institutions. Every citizen has a digital ID for secure authentication and legally binding e-signatures. A key strength of Estonia's model is the close collaboration between the public and private sector, which drives innovation, ensures service efficiency, and supports continuous development.

Meanwhile, Viet Nam has also made impressive strides in developing its digital economy and e-government infrastructure, and we believe that by sharing experiences, best practices, and technological solutions, we can support each other's digital transformation journeys, Hannes Hanso said.

The Ambassador finalized that in coming years we would see more high-level visits and cooperation between our two countries in the international fora to discuss global challenges, expand economic interaction, and foster institutional and academic partnerships. It is also an opportunity to further facilitate a dialogue between our business communities and people-to-people contacts./.