This was part of the Vietnam-Germany joint statement, which was issued in Hanoi on October 11 during the two-day visit to Vietnam by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. 

Under the statement, the two countries will continue to increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations and welcome meetings at all levels, including between political parties, governmental and parliamentary agencies, and scientific and strategic research institutes. 

Vietnam and Germany will cooperate more closely to implement projects agreed by the two sides while defining projects for the future, particularly those on strategic political dialogue; economics, trade and investment; justice and law; development cooperation and environmental protection; education, science, technology, culture, communications and social affairs. 

To implement the joint statement, they have set up a strategic management group co-chaired by a Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and a State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office. The group is scheduled to convene its regular meetings within the framework of political consultations between the two Foreign Ministries. 

Both countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral and international forums, including the United Nations, while taking into consideration the start of a strategic exchange mechanism on experience related to national defence and security policies.

Germany backed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) route on forming the ASEAN Community, thus, enhancing the bloc’s active role in maintaining stability and peace in Asia-Pacific. 

The two sides held that the “German House” project in Ho Chi Minh City would be an important part in the bilateral strategic partnership. 

They pledged to continue holding dialogues and exchange views in a constructive manner on human rights bilaterally and multilaterally, including annual dialogues on human rights between Vietnam and the EU. 

They applauded the significance of holding dialogues on the rules of law-governed states as well as methods to implement these rules. 

Vietnam and Germany agreed to maintain the development momentum in cooperative relations in recent years and vowed to continue creating favourable conditions for their enterprises and investors. 

The two sides affirmed their wish to speed up the implementation of cooperation projects, including a project to build metro route No. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

They also declared their determination to strengthen cooperation in pushing up EU recognition of Vietnam as a market economy.