Dublin, March 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: Deputy Foreign Minister Lê Thị Thu Hằng and Irish Minister of State Neale Richmond co-chaired a deputy foreign minister-level political consultation in Dublin, exploring avenues to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in higher education and foreign ministry cooperation.
The consultations, held on March 26, reviewed recent progress in bilateral ties and assessed the implementation of agreements reached following the State visit of Tô Lâm to Ireland in October 2024. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Minister Richmond reaffirmed Ireland’s appreciation for the strong friendship cultivated over the past three decades, built on political trust, shared interests, and common values. He highlighted the newly established bilateral cooperation framework as a solid foundation for expanding collaboration across trade, investment, education, science, technology, and innovation.
Deputy Foreign Minister Hằng expressed satisfaction at co-chairing the consultations as the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1996–2026), alongside the inauguration of the Vietnamese Embassy in Ireland. She underscored Việt Nam’s gratitude for Ireland’s longstanding support and reiterated the country’s commitment to enhancing comprehensive bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Both sides agreed to intensify high-level exchanges and effectively utilise mechanisms such as the higher education strategic partnership and political consultation framework to advance cooperation and address emerging challenges.
Recognising close coordination at multilateral platforms, the two countries reaffirmed their support for each other’s candidacies to United Nations bodies and other international organisations. They also agreed to serve as gateways for deeper engagement between European Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The consultations noted strong growth in bilateral trade, which reached nearly US$4.1 billion in 2025, marking a 14 percent increase year-on-year. Both sides emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement to facilitate greater market access, particularly for agricultural and aquatic products.
Ireland welcomed Việt Nam’s opening of its market to Irish beef and praised progress in implementing the memorandum of understanding on food systems transformation signed in October 2024. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in agri-food value chains and enhance connectivity between businesses and stakeholders.
Deputy Minister Hằng also urged Ireland to ratify the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement and support the removal of the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning on Việt Nam’s seafood exports related to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The two countries acknowledged growing cooperation in culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, with an increasing number of Irish tourists visiting Việt Nam. They agreed to promote tourism collaboration and encourage the establishment of friendship organisations.
On regional and global issues, both sides expressed concern over rising tensions in certain regions and stressed the importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. Regarding the South China Sea, they underscored the need to ensure peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
During her visit, Deputy Minister Hằng also met with Eugene Cartan and Gerard McKillen, reaffirming Việt Nam’s appreciation for Ireland’s enduring support.
She also visited the Trinity Innovation Hub, highlighting Việt Nam’s prioritisation of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, and noting significant potential for collaboration in strategic technology sectors between the two countries.
