Vietnam, Germany look forwards to stronger strategic partnership

The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh in a recent media interview prior to the visit. According to Ambassador Vu Quang Minh, the Vietnam visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is of great significance to the relationship between the two countries in the context Vietnam and Germany successfully implementing the strategic partnership agreement over the past decade as well as great achievements in economic and trade cooperation after the two-year enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)

This is also the first high-level visit between the two countries after 5 years since Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit to Germany for the summit of the world's leading group of developed and emerging economies (G20) in 2017 and especially after both countries had new governments.

The Ambassador said that on this occasion, Vietnam and Germany will officially approve the Action Plan for 2023-2024 in order to strongly implement the bilateral strategic partnership, and provide a long-term vision for the two countries’ strategic partnership from now to 2030 and beyond.

The two sides will also hold wide-range discussions on measures to boost bilateral cooperation in important areas such as sustainable development, climate change adaptation, energy transition, green and renewable energy development, vocational training and education, information technology, manufacturing industry, agricultural product processing, medicine, pharmacy, chemicals, and important projects using German ODA.

Both sides will also compare notes on international and regional issues of shared concern such as peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, energy crisis, conflicts and hot spots globally.

The Vietnam visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz represents a milestone affirming that the two countries have overcome all difficulties and challenges for the development of bilateral relations over the past time, in which it is partly caused by the pandemic as well as the complicated situation in the region and the world

In addition, the visit also shows Germany's growing interest and respect for Southeast Asia, especially the position and role of Vietnam - a reliable and stable partner of Germany in the region in the ever-changing world.

Regarding the tremendous achievements in bilateral relations, Ambassador Vu Quang Minh stated that in recent years, even during the pandemic, cooperation between the two countries has continued to be strongly promoted in multiple fields, from investment-business, education-training, science-technology, to security-defence, and cooperation between localities.

From the beginning of 2022 until now, the two countries have resumed the exchange of delegations at all levels to tighten bilateral relations after a long hiatus due to the pandemic.

The Ambassador emphasized the profound trust, close and sincere diplomatic and political relations between the two countries, including between their senior leaders, agencies, mass organizations, localities, and peoples are remarkable achievement in the implementation of the Vietnam - Germany strategic partnership.

Defence cooperation is also a highlight, with the effective operation of defense attaché agencies of the two countries in the two capitals.

On the occasion of Prime Minister Olaf Scholz's visit, Vietnam and Germany signed a cooperation agreement of strategic importance, which is the first Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation between the two nations.

In terms of economy, trade and investment, Germany continues to be Vietnam's largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), while Vietnam has risen to become Germany's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.

After more than 10 years of carrying out the strategic partnership, two-way trade between the two countries has doubled. By the end of September 2022, the total bilateral trade turnover reached over US$9.45 billion, up 16.7% over last year’s same period (according to German statistics, the figure is even higher, hitting US$12.16 billion during the first 8 months of 2022).

As of late May, Germany has had 426 valid projects, with a total registered capital of US$2.31 billion, while the southeast Asian nation has run 36 investment projects in Germany, with a total registered capital of US4283.3 million.

On the international level, Vietnam and Germany have given mutual support at international forums.

According to the Vietnamese diplomat, as active and responsible members of the international community, on the basis of a reliable partnership, the two countries share many common core values, strategic concerns and strategic interests in the region and the world, for cooperation, stability, peace and development on the basis of adherence to the rule of law.

Therefore, Vietnam and Germany always support and coordinate effectively in many aspects at international forums, including the United Nations, the G20, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the Group of 7 industrial countries. development industry (G7).

The two countries have also cooperated very effectively when they are both non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. In 2022, as President of the G7, Germany promoted the selection of Vietnam as an equitable energy transition partner with the G7.

Most recently, Germany was re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council and Vietnam was also elected to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, thus opening up more opportunities for cooperation and coordination at the important forum.

Regarding the prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the time to come, Ambassador Vu Quang Minh noted that the two countries' economies are highly complementary and challenges open up new opportunities for cooperation moving forward.

Economic recovery in Vietnam is faster than the average of the region and the world, while the two countries' markets, both in terms of trade and investment, tend to grow stronger in the time ahead.

In particular, German businesses, including small and medium enterprises - the backbone of the German economy – are poised to diversify their investment and business to avoid focusing on one or two partners so as to reduce risks brought about by political, security and economic fluctuations in the world.

Therefore, Vietnam is considered by German businesses and investors as a reliable partner, a leading attractive market to shift investment, trade or strengthen economic-trade relations.

The Ambassador said that many fields still have a lot of potential to expand cooperation such as education, vocational training, skilled labor supply, renewable energy, medicine, agricultural product processing, and manufacturing industry.

In terms of human resources, it is estimated that from now to 2030, Germany may lack hundreds of thousands of skilled workers, while Vietnam has an abundant, industrious and hard-working labor force, which is appreciated by German enterprises.

The two countries are making efforts to  step up cooperation in vocational training and bring Vietnamese workers to work in Germany, not only in the fields of medical care, hotel and restaurant services, but also in the processing and manufacturing industry, software, and many other highly skilled sectors.

In the field of energy, Vietnam has strengths in natural resources, abundant sunshine and wind power, long coastline, easy access that are seen as favorable conditions to cooperate with German energy firms with modern technology in order to develop clean and renewable energy such as wind power, solar power, or hydrogen production.

On the contrary, Germany is also accelerating the energy transition to renewable and clean energy sources, vigorously developing new technologies in this area, including technology for the production and use of hydrogen.

This context is creating great new cooperation opportunities between the two countries, especially when Vietnam has been selected by the G7 as a global partner in equitable energy transition.

The strong development of Germany's green technology, digital technology, machine and equipment manufacturing technology is also a great opportunity for strong bilateral cooperation in investment and technology transfer.

On the other hand, Vietnam's policies of balanced development and environmental protection, together with the nation’s COP26 commitments, have created favorable conditions to bolster cooperation with Germany in the above-mentioned areas, Minh went on to say.

With the Action Plan to implement the strategic partnership for the 2023-2024 period and other important frameworks, on the basis of great achievements in bilateral cooperation over the past time, Vietnam and Germany are facing a golden opportunity to further augment cooperation in a variety of fields.

This will bring the strategic partnership between the two countries to new heights, and in a comprehensive and effective manner, not only in politics and security but especially in economy, trade, science and technology, education and training, vocational training and labor cooperation, Ambassador affirmed.