President Steinmeier’s State visit marks milestone in Vietnam – Germany relations

Minh, in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency ahead of the President’s visit, said the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany has developed substantively across multiple fields in recent times, especially after Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s official visit to Vietnam in November 2022.

Political trust has been enhanced through reciprocal visits at all levels that resumed after a two-year hiatus due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023 alone saw more than 40 working trips to Germany undertaken by deputy ministers, heads and deputy heads of localities of Vietnam.

Meanwhile, many heads of German states and business leaders paid visits to Vietnam in 2022-2023. Most recently, the Minister-Presidents of Lower Saxony and Thuringia visited Vietnam bringing with them a record number of up to 50-70 businesses each.

Economic diplomacy has been strengthened and expanded with many important steps forward. Despite economic difficulties, Germany agreed to grant EUR61 million in non-refundable aid to Vietnam for the 2024-2025 period. The two sides held the second session of the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation. Many Vietnamese businesses resumed promotion activities and attended trade fairs in Germany. The two sides gradually resolved difficulties to promote the implementation of German ‘lighthouse’ projects in Vietnam.

Germany is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the European Union, while Vietnam is Germany’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.

Two-way trade turnover between the two countries hit more than US$11 billion last year (according to data unveiled by Vietnam) and US$17.12 billion as of November 2023 (according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany - Destatis). So far there have been 464 valid German invested projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$2.74 billion. Vietnam has also invested US#283.3 million in 37 valid projects in Germany.

Ambassador Minh said important gains have been recorded in bilateral cooperation in other fields such as green development, energy transition and climate change response. Germany has continued to provide active support for Vietnam to implement its commitments within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and businesses of the two countries have proactively seized cooperation opportunities in this field.

The two countries have also strengthened cooperation in cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges, through a score of activities held in their localities, helping to popularize cultures and promote mutual understanding.  

It’s noteworthy that the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany was established at a congress held in Berlin late last year. The federation is expected to connect and unite all individuals, organizations and associations of Vietnamese people, acting as a bridge to further promote the friendship between the two peoples.

In fact, the ambassador said the Vietnamese community in Germany has grown rapidly over the years, upholding the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance, integrating well into their host society, making a practical contribution to the German economy, and turning their heart to the fatherland.

Ambassador Minh said the coming visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is of great significance as it is his first overseas visit in 2024 and is also the first exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries in 2024 - a pivotal year towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Notably, he visited Vietnam in October 2016 in his capacity as Vice Chancellor of Germany, and in March 2008 when he was Foreign Minister of Germany. Visiting Vietnam this time, he will have the chance to inspect German invested lighthouse projects signed during his 2008 visit.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled to meet with senior Vietnamese leaders to discuss measures to further promote Vietnam – Germany cooperation in multiple fields as well as to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

High on the agenda will be economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Germany. Notably, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be accompanied by a group of large German businesses operating in various industries.

According to Ambassador Minh, Vietnam has become a leading attractive destination for German businesses. Renewable energy, green transition and sustainable development, manufacturing industry, services, logistics, and education are priority areas of cooperation of both sides. It is expected that there will be a meeting between businesses accompanying the President and German businesses plus German business organizations operating in Vietnam.

An area of great interest to both sides is cooperation in vocational training and bringing Vietnamese skilled workers to work in Germany amid serious labour shortages in the EU state. The two sides are expected to sign a Letter of Intent on labour cooperation, the first of its kind since German unification more than three decades ago.

The coming visit to Vietnam by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is anticipated to give fresh impetus to relations between Vietnam and Germany in the coming time, concluded the ambassador.