The European Union and Vietnam have agreed to upgrade their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, strengthening ties in areas such as trade, energy, climate and security.
The EU and Vietnam have agreed to cooperate more closely across a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, sustainable development, climate and energy, digital transformation, research and innovation, security-related issues, and cooperation in multilateral fora. The new strategic partnership will also provide an opportunity to deepen dialogue and cooperation on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The decision reflects how much ties between the EU and Vietnam have grown over the past three decades, says the EU. “This is the EU’s first Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Southeast Asia”, said EU Council president Antonio Costa: “It underlines the importance we attach to the region and to Vietnam’s growing role within it. It also reflects our determination to be a credible, long-term partner in the Indo-Pacific; one that is engaged, principled, and present.”
It also shows a shared interest in working more closely in an evolving international environment, particularly in support of international law, multilateralism, and free and open trade: “a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific is indispensable for global security and sustainable trade,” he added.
The step builds on years of close cooperation. Agreements like the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement have boosted trade, investment, and exchanges over the past decade, bringing real benefits to businesses and people on both sides. Cooperation has also grown in areas such as sustainable development and the clean energy transition, climate action, environmental protection, judicial reform, education, security and regional stability.
The European Union and Viet Nam established formal diplomatic relations in 1990. Over the past three decades, cooperation has grown into a broad and dynamic partnership covering trade, investment, development cooperation, sustainable growth, political dialogue, and human rights. Today, the EU is one of Viet Nam’s key partners in trade, investment and sustainable development.
