Hanoi, June 5, 2025 – The Europe Today: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng has emphasized the importance of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official visit to Europe and participation in the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) from June 5–14, 2025. The trip will include bilateral engagements in France, official visits to Estonia and Sweden, and contributions to key multilateral activities.
Speaking to the press, Deputy Minister Hằng noted that the Prime Minister’s visit reflects the consistent foreign policy of Vietnam, as outlined at the 13th National Party Congress—prioritising independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, diversification, and proactive, effective global integration.
This marks PM Chính’s first visit to France since the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. It will also be the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Sweden in six years and the first visit to Estonia by a key Vietnamese leader since diplomatic relations were established in 1992.
“The trip conveys a strong message of peace, stability, cooperation, and development,” said Hằng. “It aims to deepen Việt Nam’s ties with each partner while expanding cooperation with the European Union and reinforcing ASEAN–EU relations.”
In France, PM Chính’s meetings will serve to implement the major directions identified in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the joint statement issued during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Việt Nam in May 2025. The visit is expected to usher in a new chapter in bilateral collaboration across strategic sectors such as aerospace, energy transition, infrastructure, and education.
In Sweden and Estonia, the Prime Minister will review the progress of existing cooperation and set out new priorities for achieving practical, result-oriented breakthroughs. The visit also seeks to explore broader opportunities with the EU, with a focus on sustainable development, digital transformation, innovation, and green growth.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that France, a key partner, is Vietnam’s fifth largest trading partner in the EU and second largest investor. In 2024, bilateral trade reached US$5.42 billion, marking a 42 percent increase over the past decade. France also remains Vietnam’s top development aid provider in the EU, with more than 350 French enterprises currently operating in the country.
Sweden, which has provided over US$3 billion in non-refundable aid since 1967, has been a crucial partner in supporting Vietnam’s healthcare, economic reforms, and institutional development. Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$1.48 billion in 2024. Sweden currently has 111 valid investment projects in Vietnam, totaling over US$743 million.
Estonia, a pioneer in digital transformation and e-government, has actively supported Việt Nam’s deeper engagement with the EU, including through early ratification of the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). While trade volume remains modest, both countries are leveraging the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to promote market access and economic cooperation.
At the UNOC 3 in France, themed “Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”, Prime Minister Chính will deliver a keynote address underscoring Vietnam’s strong commitment to sustainable ocean governance and implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He will highlight ASEAN’s collective stance on multilateralism and international law, while showcasing Vietnam’s progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to marine conservation and the sustainable use of ocean resources.
PM Chính is also scheduled to co-chair a high-level summit on delta regions alongside the Presidents of Colombia and Iraq. Additionally, he will participate in ocean-related economic activities in Monaco at the invitation of the Monegasque Government.
Deputy Minister Hằng stressed that the trip offers a significant opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s development vision and attract international resources to support national modernization. The advanced sectors of the partner countries—such as telecommunications, high-speed rail, aerospace, digital governance, innovation, and the green economy—align closely with Vietnam’s strategic priorities in the new era.
