HCMC – Vietnam and the European Union have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, opening a new chapter in cooperation between the two sides.
President Luong Cuong and European Council (EC) President Antonio Costa announced the decision on January 29 following official talks, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
EC President Costa is paying an official visit to Vietnam on January 28-29. Vietnamese President Luong Cuong hosted a welcoming ceremony in honor of him earlier today. His visit comes at a significant time as Vietnam just successfully concluded the 14th National Party Congress and Vietnam and the European Union marked the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.
EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said Costa’s visit carries strong political significance, sending a clear signal of the EU’s intention to deepen cooperation with key partners, including Vietnam, while promoting a rule-based multilateral order.
He noted that over the past 35 years, EU-Vietnam relations have grown into one of the bloc’s most substantive partnerships in Asia. Cooperation now spans trade, investment, sustainable development, security and defense, diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges.
Guerrier said the upgrade reflects the maturity of bilateral ties and the shared view that the relationship is ready to move to a higher level.
The EC is the EU’s highest political decision-making body. Costa served as Portugal’s prime minister from 2015 to 2024 and has been President of the EC since December 2024.
Vietnam and the EU established diplomatic relations on November 28, 1990. Bilateral trade amounted to more than US$66.8 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, up 6.6% year-on-year.
The EU is currently Vietnam’s fourth-largest trading partner, third-largest export market and fifth-largest source of imports. Vietnam is the EU’s 16th-largest trading partner globally and its largest in ASEAN.
