EU ambassador invokes Vietnamese proverb to highlight strength of Vietnam-EU ties

In an exclusive commentary for Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Ambassador Guerrier reflects on the significance of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s first official visit to the EU.

“The visit will be an important moment in a relationship that continues to grow both in ambition and depth,” he wrote.

“It takes place in the year when we elevated our relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and offers an opportunity to give fresh momentum to our cooperation and turn our shared ambitions into practical benefits for both sides."

Visit of strategic significance

When President of the European Council António Costa visited Hanoi in January, our leaders recognized how much this relationship had grown since diplomatic ties were established in 1990.

What began with humanitarian cooperation now spans to trade and investment, energy, education, science and technology, and security.

The new partnership reflects and further reinforces that evolution, and it gives us a stronger framework for the work ahead.

The timing of the visit of Vietnam’s top leader to the EU matters.

In an increasingly uncertain world, our countries need partners they can rely on: partners who honour commitments, support international rules and invest in long-term cooperation.

Over more than three decades, the EU and Vietnam have built that trust by working together increasingly closely.

In my work here, I see how much this continuity matters to our partners.

It gives them the confidence to plan ahead, invest and build lasting connections.

General Secretary and President Lam’s visit is an occasion to build on that confidence and discuss what more we can achieve together.

Bringing European technology, capital and expertise to Vietnam

Our economic ties provide a strong foundation.

Six years after its entry into force, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has helped deepen exchanges between our businesses and connect our economies.

Bilateral trade in goods reached almost €76 billion (US$85.2 billion) in 2025, making Vietnam now the EU’s largest trading partner in goods in ASEAN.

There is considerable scope to build on this achievement.

Full and effective implementation of the FTA, simpler procedures and the removal of remaining trade barriers will help more businesses benefit, including smaller firms.

A more transparent and predictable business environment will also encourage European companies to expand their investments, bringing technology, expertise and quality jobs to support Vietnam's development ambitions.

These ambitions increasingly concern the quality of growth: greater productivity, stronger domestic capabilities and a more resilient economy.

Europe has much to contribute, from advanced manufacturing and secure digital infrastructure to sustainable transport and clean energy.

The new container terminal in Da Nang City shows how the cooperation of EU and Vietnamese companies will contribute to improving connectivity and prosperity across the region and beyond.

We are already putting this reinforced cooperation into practice.

At the first EU-Viet Nam Global Gateway Business and Investment Forum in March, the EU announced a €560 million ($627.8 million) investment package supporting Vietnam’s green transition, sustainable transport and clean energy development.

It demonstrates how political commitment can bring together public finance, private investment and European expertise around concrete priorities.

Energy is central to this effort.

Vietnam’s growing economy needs a reliable and affordable electricity supply, while its climate ambitions require a shift towards cleaner sources.

Through the Just Energy Transition Partnership, the EU and its partners are supporting investment in renewable energy, transmission capacity and energy efficiency.

Progress in these areas can strengthen energy security, improve air quality and help Vietnamese businesses compete as demand for sustainable production grows.

Better transport is closely connected to that transition.

Our €40 million ($44.8 million) grant-funded transport facility will provide European expertise and technical support for Vietnam’s public transport investment plans, helping prepare projects and mobilize further financing.

For citizens, the benefits are tangible: better connections, easier journeys and cleaner cities.

Specific concrete projects will be discussed during the visit of General Secretary and President Lam.

Supporting Vietnam’s digital economy

Alongside infrastructure, our partnership will invest in knowledge and skills.

The letter of intent on science, technology and innovation signed during EU Commissioner Zaharieva’s visit in May opened further opportunities for cooperation, supporting Vietnam’s ambition to build an economy driven by innovation and digital transformation.

We want to see more Vietnamese researchers working with European partners through Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation funding programme, and closer links between universities, research institutions and businesses.

Cooperation in emerging technologies, semiconductors and secure connectivity can help turn research into practical applications.

For me, the value of education and academic exchanges also lies in the connections people make along the way.

A student’s time abroad or a shared research project can begin a relationship that lasts for years, bringing new ideas and a deeper understanding of each other.

Our prosperity also depends on peace and security.

Disruption to shipping routes, threats to maritime infrastructure and regional tensions affect both Europe and Vietnam.

We have a shared interest in freedom of navigation, the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Behind these different areas spanned by EU-Vietnam’s broad and deep partnership, lies a common conviction: international rules matter.

Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, open trade and effective multilateral institutions give countries the confidence to plan, invest and develop.

The EU and Vietnam can work together to uphold these principles and find common solutions to challenges that no country can address alone.

As EU Ambassador to Vietnam, I see that spirit in the daily work of EU and Vietnamese partners: businesses investing together, researchers sharing knowledge and institutions finding practical solutions.

It is these relationships, built person by person and project by project, that give our comprehensive strategic partnership its vitality.

This gives me confidence in the next chapter of EU-Vietnam relations.

General Secretary and President Lam’s first visit to the EU is an opportunity to build on what we have achieved and set a clear direction for the years ahead.

Europe is ready to work alongside Vietnam, turning our shared ambitions into lasting progress, greater security and opportunities that people can see in their own lives.