Viet Nam, EU upgrade ties into Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

State President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council (EC) António Costa announced Viet Nam and the EU have upgraded ties into Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during a press conference following their talks held in Ha Noi on January 29.

Earlier, on January 26, ahead of the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by President of the European Council Antonio Costa, EU Ambassador to Viet Nam Julien Guerrier noted that over the past 35 years, Viet Nam–EU relations have expanded remarkably in both scope and depth.

The two sides are well positioned to open a new chapter by upgrading their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Guerrier said. He stressed that such an upgrade has been undertaken only once before by the EU, making it a clear strategic signal of both sides' determination to further deepen cooperation and demonstrate the importance of the relationship to their partners.

If realized, Viet Nam would become the first Southeast Asian country to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the EU, reaffirming that EU–Viet Nam relations are a frontrunner within ASEAN and a model for broader EU engagement in the region.

The Ambassador emphasized that the proposed upgrade would go beyond symbolism. Rather, it would provide a stronger framework for concrete and practical cooperation in areas that directly benefit both sides, their people and their economies.

Through the upgraded partnership, the EU aims to reinforce three key pillars of cooperation with Viet Nam: trade, green transition, and peace and security.

Since its entry into force, the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has resulted in a 40 percent increase in bilateral trade over the past five years.

Bilateral trade turnover in the first 11 months of 2025 reached over US$66.8 billion, an increase of 6.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

The EU is Viet Nam's fourth-largest trading partner, its third-largest export market, and its fifth-largest import market. Viet Nam is the EU's 16th-largest trading partner and the largest among ASEAN countries./.