EU hopes to lift ties with Viet Nam into comprehensive strategic partnership
VGP - The EU treasures its relationship with Viet Nam and expects to upgrade the partnership into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets President of the European Council António Costa, Nice, France, June 9, 2025 - Photo: VGP
President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made that above statement during their meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Nice, France, on June 9.
These meetings took place on the occasion of the Vietnamese leader's working visit to France to attend the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3).
The Prime Minister proposed that both sides focus on upgrading the Viet Nam–EU relationship into a comprehensive strategic partnership and continue to promote the ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Pham called on the European Commission to lift "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.
The Prime Minister urged the EU to strengthen its relations with the Southeast Asia, a populous, young, and dynamically growing region with great development potential. He affirmed that Viet Nam stands ready to serve as a bridge for the EU to enhance its engagement with the region.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) meets President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R), Nice, France, June 9, 2025 - Photo: VGP
The EU leaders, for their parts, vowed to speed up the bilateral cooperation priorities proposed by the Prime Minister, asserting that more EU member states will soon ratify the EVIPA.
The bloc currently prioritizes strengthening relations with ASEAN, including Viet Nam, they noted, affirming the EU's policy of enhancing cooperation with countries and regions to enhance a multipolar world order and avoid confrontation.
In line with this goal, the EU is organizing a series of summits with various countries and regions, including ASEAN, they shared.
Regarding international and regional issues, the EU leaders spoke highly of Viet Nam's constructive approach to matters of peace and security, as well as its consistent stance on upholding the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, including settling disputes via peaceful means, respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of nations, and advocating ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea issue.
Pham took the occasion to invite the EU leaders to pay visits to Viet Nam and the later affirmed that they would make arrangement to visit Viet Nam in the near future./.
