Brussels, October 22, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam and the European Union (EU) have agreed to strengthen coordination to ensure the effective implementation of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation across political, economic, security and regional affairs.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Vietnamese Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung and European Commission Vice-President and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday.
The meeting was held as part of the official visit to the European Union by Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Trung highlighted the historic significance of the visit, saying it reflected growing political trust and a strong commitment on both sides to elevating their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a higher level and making bilateral cooperation more substantive and effective.
Kallas reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to its relationship with Vietnam, describing the country as a priority partner in the Indo-Pacific region. She also commended Vietnam’s development achievements and its growing role and standing in regional and international affairs.
Both sides noted their shared perspectives and interests in promoting multilateralism, upholding the rules-based international order, supporting free trade, ensuring maritime and aviation security and freedom, and resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law.
The two sides agreed to maintain exchanges of delegations, regular contacts and consultations at all levels. They also emphasized the need to make effective use of existing cooperation mechanisms and actively review the implementation of agreements and commitments reached by their senior leaders.
Particular attention was given to following up on the outcomes of President and Party General Secretary Tô Lâm’s visit to the EU.
Discussing regional and international developments, Foreign Minister Trung welcomed the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and reaffirmed Vietnam’s readiness to continue serving as a bridge for strengthening ASEAN-EU relations.
He emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity between the two regions and promoting peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.
The two sides also agreed to maintain close coordination at regional and international forums, build on their shared interests and perspectives, and expand cooperation on both traditional and non-traditional security challenges.
They further reaffirmed their support for ASEAN centrality and their commitment to upholding the United Nations Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The meeting underscored the mutual determination of Vietnam and the European Union to deepen their strategic partnership, strengthen multilateral cooperation and contribute to peace, stability and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
