(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam and the European Union have upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The decision was announced by State President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council António Costa at a joint press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday, following high-level talks.
 President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council António Costa brief on the results of their talks. (Photo: Viet Cuong/VOV) |
At the briefing, President Luong Cuong said that after more than 35 years of diplomatic relations, Vietnam–EU ties have developed strongly across many fields, including political-diplomatic cooperation, trade, investment, defense, security, climate change response, and agriculture, while still holding significant untapped potential.
Elevating the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the long-term vision of both sides in a new phase of cooperation. The two leaders also discussed in detail orientations and measures to effectively implement the partnership in the coming period.
 President Luong Cuong speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Viet Cuong/VOV) |
President Luong Cuong said: “We consider economic cooperation a key driver of bilateral relations, with both sides committed to maintaining and strengthening free trade, expanding market access, effectively implementing the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and accelerating the ratification of the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)."
"Vietnam calls on the EU to enhance cooperation in the maritime economy, support sustainable fisheries development, and lift the “yellow card” warning on Vietnam’s seafood exports. We welcome greater EU investment in priority areas of mutual interest, including green and digital transformation, energy transition, and the effective implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)," said the Vietnamese President.
 President of the European Council António Costa speaks at the press conference. (Photo: Viet Cuong/VOV) |
EC President António Costa said the EU’s decision to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, the first such partnership with a Southeast Asian country, underscores Vietnam’s growing role and standing in EU policy, as well as the vast potential for cooperation in areas ranging from trade, clean energy, and the maritime economy to defense, security, and joint responses to major regional and global challenges.
"Today, we reach a significant new milestone. We are elevating our relationship to the highest level, a comprehensive and strategic partnership. This upgrade fully captures the depth and breadth of our collaboration to date and our expectations to, for its future evolution on trade, on green and digital transition, on security, on people-to-people ties," said EC President Antonio Costa.