European Council President starts two-day official visit to Viet Nam
VGP - European Council (EC) President Antonio Costa is paying an official visit to Viet Nam on January 28–29 at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong.
European Council President Antonio Costa
The visit comes as Viet Nam–EU relations continue to deepen since the two sides established diplomatic ties on November 28, 1990. It marks the second official visit to Viet Nam by the top EC leader, following the 2012 visit by then EC President Herman Van Rompuy.
Costa is also among the first senior international leaders to visit Viet Nam after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. EU Ambassador to Viet Nam Julien Guerrier noted that the EU highly values Viet Nam's decision to host the EC President shortly after the Congress, describing bilateral relations as having reached their most comprehensive and substantive stage following a 35-year journey. He said the partnership has evolved from humanitarian assistance in the 1990s into a multifaceted relationship, opening the door to a new phase of cooperation.
According to Ambassador Guerrier, the EU seeks to further strengthen three key pillars of cooperation with Viet Nam including trade, the green transition, and peace and security. The bloc also aims to expand collaboration in emerging areas such as digital transformation, innovation, and high-tech industries, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and critical resources.
The EU is currently Viet Nam's fourth-largest trading partner, third-largest export market, and fifth-largest import market. Viet Nam, in turn, is the EU's 16th largest trading partner worldwide and its largest partner within ASEAN. Official figures show that bilateral trade surpassed US$66.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent.
In terms of investment, the EU ranks sixth among 140 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with total registered investment capital reaching US$30 billion. Viet Nam has invested in the EU, with 98 projects worth US$434.88 million.
The two sides have established an important framework for cooperation on climate change, notably through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with the G7 countries and the EU. The EU is considered as a key partner in assisting Viet Nam in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as pledged at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Viet Nam's Mission to the EU Nguyen Van Thao said the visit reflects the EU's recognition and high regard for Viet Nam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of international relations. It also highlights Viet Nam's rising stature and credibility in the international arena.
During the visit, leaders from both sides are expected to hold in-depth discussions on practical and concrete cooperation programs, with the aim of elevating Viet Nam–EU relations to a new stage of development that matches the potential and needs of both sides amid increasing regional and global challenges./.
