Seminar looks to boost cooperation between Vietnamese localities and EU
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 12 held a seminar to discuss measures to further foster cooperation between several Vietnamese localities and the European Union (EU).
Ben Tre province, the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg, and the Vietnamese Delegation to the EU sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to support trade promotion and investment attraction between the EU and Ben Tre. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 12 held a seminar to discussmeasures to further foster cooperation between several Vietnamese localities and theEuropean Union (EU).
The event was held on the occasion of heads of Vietnamese representative offices overseas returning home to attend the 31st Diplomatic Conference and the 20th National Conference on Local Diplomacy.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign AffairsNguyen Minh Vu said that Vietnam has an important position in the global andregional policies of the EU. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), whichofficially took effect in August 2020, has brought Vietnam many greatadvantages in promoting cooperation with the EU.
However, the value of Vietnam's exports to the EU is stillmodest, accounting for only 2 percent of the bloc's total import turnover, while the country's attracted investment has yet to be commensurate with its potential, Vu said, adding that there remains large room for Vietnam to enhace cooperative ties with Europe.
Delegates said that the reason behind the modest cooperation outcomes is mainlybecause Vietnam has not met the EU's standards of labour, environment, logisticscosts and large transportation. The country still has limited awareness of the marketpotential, and its product quality and production progress have not met therequirements of a strict market like the EU.
To increase the efficiency of cooperation between localitiesand the EU, they stressed the need to change the mindset on theapproach method, increase investments in market research to build exportorientations and attract the EU’s investment more effectively.
Ambassadors said that Vietnam’s representative offices inthe EU will act as bridges, and provide helpful information about the market andpotential projects and coordinated closely with localities to promote theircollaboration with the EU.
Within the framework of the event, the People's Committee ofBen Tre province, the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg, and theVietnamese Delegation to the EU signed a Memorandum of Understandingon cooperation to support trade promotion and investment attraction between theEU and Ben Tre in a number of fields, especially high-tech agriculture,renewable energy, saltwater treatment technology, and tourism./.
Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung has highlighted the need to ensure the Party’s leadership in diplomatic work and the importance of combination of Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy.
Local-level foreign relations has achieved remarkable gains, contributing to the overall success of the country's diplomacy and local socio-economic development goals, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and other people’s organisations have flexibly responded to the current challenges and renovated their activities to adapt to the new situation, VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga has said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 13 held the 20th National Conference on Local Diplomacy, with the aim of continuing to reform and increase the efficiency of foreign affairs and international integration of localities.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Ben Tre province, the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Luxembourg, and the Vietnamese Delegation to the EU sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to support trade promotion and investment attraction between the EU and Ben Tre. (Photo: VNA) 
