Hanoi, September 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has called on the Federal Republic of Germany to soon ratify the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to work closely with Việt Nam to effectively implement the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), creating more favourable conditions for businesses of both countries to expand investment and trade cooperation.
The Prime Minister made the remarks during phone talks on Monday with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, held to discuss ways to advance the Việt Nam–Germany Strategic Partnership in a more substantive, effective and comprehensive manner. The conversation coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1975–2025).
PM Chính praised Germany’s leading role within the European Union and on the global stage, affirming that Việt Nam attaches great importance to consolidating and strengthening its Strategic Partnership with Germany across all sectors. He proposed that science, technology and innovation should become a new pillar of bilateral cooperation.
Chancellor Merz, for his part, expressed admiration for Việt Nam’s growing potential and rising profile in the region and globally. He lauded the country’s socio-economic achievements in recent years and welcomed its adoption of important resolutions promoting development in science, technology and innovation.
He reaffirmed that Germany values its Strategic Partnership with Việt Nam and seeks to deepen cooperation in strategic areas including the green economy, energy transition, circular economy, supporting industries and logistics. He also extended his sympathy over the impacts of recent storms and flooding in Việt Nam.
In a spirit of openness and trust, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive progress of bilateral relations, particularly in trade, investment, energy transition, science and technology, education and labour cooperation. They agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level in the near future, enhance high-level exchanges and delegation visits, maximise existing cooperation mechanisms and establish joint working groups in economic, political and labour fields.
The two sides also pledged to expand collaboration in green finance, renewable energy, digital transformation, sustainable development, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, transportation, and the digital economy. They agreed to continue close coordination within the ASEAN–EU framework and at multilateral forums, while reaffirming their shared stance on resolving disputes by peaceful means and in line with international law.
PM Chính urged Germany to continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living in the country to stabilise their lives, integrate into local society and contribute to both Germany’s development and bilateral friendship. He also proposed expanding vocational training programmes and increasing the recruitment of skilled Vietnamese workers to support Germany’s labour market needs.
Both leaders extended invitations to each other for official visits at a mutually convenient time to further discuss measures to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation.
