EU remains one of Viet Nam's key partners, Deputy PM reassures
VGP – Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son reassured that the EU remains one of Viet Nam's key partners during his reception for European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic in Ha Noi on September 26.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son hosts a reception for European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic at the Government Office in Ha Noi, September 26, 2025. Photo: VGP
Bui noted with pleasure that bilateral cooperation has yielded positive results across various fields. Both sides have established and secured effective implementation of eight periodic dialogue and cooperation mechanisms while maintaining close coordination at multilateral forums.
Both Bui and Sefcovic welcomed the two sides' active discussions on upgrading the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Bui urged the EU to continue working with Viet Nam to further strengthen political trust through the exchange of delegations.
The Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister called on the remaining EU members to soon ratify the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He also urged the EU to collaborate with Viet Nam in effectively realizing the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and to remove "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.
Bui took the occasion to call on the EU to continue assistance for the process of building ASEAN Community as well as its strong support for peaceful resolution of disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, thus contributing to peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region.
Sefcovic said his had a productive meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien earlier the same day, during which both sides reached consensus on measures to bolster trade, especially through fruitful implementation of the EVFTA.
He spoke highly of Viet Nam's renewal process, affirming that the EU always backs and wishes Viet Nam to achieve fast and sustainable development.
Sefcovic suggested Viet Nam should continue reforming and streamlining administrative procedures to facilitate investment from the EU member countries.
He also suggested Viet Nam and the EU set up a joint working group to fix obstacles to promote bilateral cooperation and formulate a cooperation strategy to fully tap potential and strengths of each side in such fields like science and technology, semiconductor, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, 5G technology, aviation and logistics.
The European Commissioner invited Viet Nam to attend the upcoming Global Gateway Forum 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.
Deputy Prime Minister Bui agreed with Sefcovic's proposal to set up a joint working group to address the issues of common interest, saying that the Government will instruct relevant agencies to promptly work with the EU's partners to fully settle issues of shared concern.
He asked the EU to promote the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in a bid to help Viet Nam timely realize its commitment to reducing emissions to zero by 2050.
Bui reiterated the Vietnamese Government pledges to improve legal framework for intellectual property and to train high-quality workforce to lure high-tech projects.
He called on the EU to cooperate with Viet Nam in promoting research and development, technology transfer and startup in the domains of semiconductor, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, 5G technology, aviation and high technologies in the spirit of harmonizing interests and sharing risks.
On behalf of the Government of Viet Nam, Bui conveyed his invitation to the EU leaders to attend the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention on Cybercrime scheduled to take place in Ha Noi on October 25-26./.
