Vietnam and Denmark elevate ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The upgrade, agreed during talks in Copenhagen on October 20 between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, opens a broader framework for cooperation in trade, green transition, technology, maritime security and other areas of shared interest.

The new partnership marks a significant step in relations between the two countries, which are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic ties in 2026. It builds on the Comprehensive Partnership established in 2013 and the Green Strategic Partnership launched in 2023, extending cooperation beyond its existing focus on climate action, energy and sustainable growth.

The decision was formalised in a joint statement adopted in Copenhagen on 20 October following the leaders’ talks. Both leaders recognised the potential for closer cooperation and agreed to deepen ties for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Trade, investment and sustainable development feature prominently in the expanded partnership. Both sides intend to remove barriers to bilateral trade and investment, strengthen supply-chain connectivity and encourage business engagement in high-tech and high-value-added industries. Cooperation will also cover renewable energy, energy efficiency, green shipping, logistics, biotechnology, healthcare and education.

The upgrade builds on the two countries’ existing cooperation in green growth, with climate action and the energy transition remaining central to their agenda. Vietnam and Denmark plan to advance renewable energy projects, reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector and share expertise in clean technology, energy planning and environmental protection. These efforts will support Vietnam’s transition towards a low-carbon economy and its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The new framework also broadens cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, alongside education, vocational training and research. The two countries intend to expand links between universities and research institutions, strengthen skills development and increase scholarship opportunities for Vietnamese students.

Beyond economic and environmental priorities, the partnership places greater emphasis on political dialogue, international cooperation and maritime security. Both countries reaffirmed their support for multilateralism, international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. They also highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as unimpeded maritime trade, including in the East Sea (known internationally as South China Sea), in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Closer engagement with ASEAN and cooperation on regional and global challenges will form another part of the partnership. Denmark also welcomed the establishment of its Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, a move expected to facilitate closer connections between the two countries’ institutions, businesses and people.

The joint statement provides for the development of action plans to translate the expanded partnership into practical outcomes. With the new framework in place, Vietnam and Denmark aim to build on more than five decades of diplomatic relations and turn their growing alignment in green transition, trade and innovation into deeper, more tangible cooperation.

Denmark, Vietnam exchange cooperation agreements at business forum

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Denmark exchanged cooperation documents in a range of fields, such as healthcare, logistics, aviation, renewable energy, digital technology and education, at the Vietnam-Denmark Business Forum in Copenhagen on October 20.