HCMC – German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accompanied by his spouse, is set to pay a state visit to Vietnam from January 23 to 24 at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.
This visit marks the second time in January 2024 that Vietnam hosts the leader of a foreign nation for a state visit, following the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
During his two-day stay, President Steinmeier will hold talks with President Thuong to chart a course for enhancing and fortifying bilateral relations. The German leader is also expected to partake in various engagements.
Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany were officially established on September 23, 1975. The two nations elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership in October 2011.
Germany is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Europe, contributing to nearly 20% of Vietnam’s exports to the European Union (EU). Germany also serves as a pivotal transit hub for Vietnamese goods en route to other European markets.
In 2023, bilateral trade surpassed US$11 billion, with Vietnam exporting goods worth around US$7.4 billion to Germany.
