(Illustrative photo: VGP)

This is the second official visit by a top EU leader to Vietnam, following the visit by former EC President Herman Van Rompuy in 2012. Mr. Costa’s visit marks a special diplomatic milestone following Vietnam’s successful 14th National Party Congress.

Impressive cooperation achievements

With 27 member states and a population of 450 million, the European Union is the world’s third-largest economy, with a gross domestic product of 19.4 trillion USD. The EU accounts for 14 % of global trade. 

Over the 35 years since Vietnam and the EU established diplomatic relations on November 28, 1990, they have made impressive strides in their relationship. Vietnam has become one of the EU’s most important partners. The two have signed 5 cooperation agreements and implemented 8 regular dialogue mechanisms. Vietnam is the only ASEAN country engaging in all aspects of cooperation with the EU.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become a successful model in the region. The EVFTA has boosted bilateral trade 40% in the 5 years since it came into force in 2020.

The EU is Vietnam’s 4th-largest trading partner, after China, the US, and the Republic of Korea, 3rd-largest export market, and 5th-largest import market. Vietnam is the EU’s largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Cooperation in science, technology, and innovation has become a pillar of Vietnam’s partnership with many EU countries. In 2025, Vietnam signed a strategic partnership agreement on science, technology, and innovation cooperation with Sweden, a memorandum of understanding on digital transformation and digital economy with Estonia, and an agreement on science, technology, and innovation cooperation with France.

The EU prioritizes cooperation with Vietnam in green and sustainable development and climate change response, and is implementing several projects in Vietnam under the Global Gateway Initiative.

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said: “Today, 35 years later, we have built one of the strongest, broadest, and deepest relationships in the region, with the largest number of bilateral agreements we have with Vietnam, spanning trade, sustainable development, innovation, governance, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Having reached this stage, we believe it is time to open a new era in relations between the European Union and Vietnam.”

Upgrading relations in a substantive and comprehensive manner

In the context of a volatile global geopolitical environment, President of the European Council António Costa’s visit to Vietnam carries a strong message of an open, free, and rules-based trade relationship. Ambassador Guerrier said the EU hopes to enhance bilateral cooperation based on three pillars: trade, green transition, and peace and security. Both sides will also promote cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, technology, AI, semiconductors, research, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

“And this New Year in our bilateral relationship will be symbolized by our intention to upgrade our partnership to a comprehensive and strategic partnership. It is a double upgrade, something that has been done only once before. This move sends a strong strategic signal, demonstrating to ourselves and to our partners that cooperation between the two sides will be further strengthened. It will also make Vietnam the first Southeast Asian country with which the EU has established a comprehensive and strategic partnership, underlining once again that the EU–Vietnam relationship is a frontrunner within ASEAN and a model for others to follow,” said Ambassador Guerrier.

For 35 years the Vietnam-EU partnership has been developing strongly. EC President Costa’s visit to Vietnam will help to build a more comprehensive partnership framework and make the Vietnam-EU relationship a cooperation model for Asia and Europe.