Viet Nam and Germany have been able to sustain a robust and enduring relationship over the past 45 years thanks to well-rounded cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economy, and culture affairs among others, according to Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Photo: VGP

Minh stressed the point in his latest article released on the occasion of the 45th founding anniversary of Viet Nam-Germany diplomatic relations.

Viet Nam is the only Southeast Asian nation to boast special links with Germany, with more than 100,000 students and workers studying and working in the country in the 1950s, giving them a deep understanding of the German language and culture. More than 170,000 Vietnamese people from different generations now living in Germany have helped promote the diverse and unique relationship between the two countries.

The consensus of will and the agreements reached during high-level visits have become an important leverage for both countries to deepen bilateral cooperation. Particularly, the Ha Noi Joint Statement on establishment of Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership issued on the occasion of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in October 2011 marked a significant milestone in shaping the Viet Nam-Germany ties in the last 10 years.

Many cooperation mechanisms, including high-level economic dialogue and consultation on development cooperation have been kicked off and expanded in a bid to ensure effectiveness and quality of all-round cooperation.

Based on solid foundation of the political ties, economic cooperation has been dynamic, prominently with the two-way trade rising by 10% annually since 2010 to US$10 billion, making Germany the largest European trading partner of Viet Nam.

The trade and investment agreements signed between Viet Nam and the European Union are set to open up greater trade and investment opportunities for the two countries’ businesses.

Germany is the 18th biggest foreign investor in Viet Nam with 361 projects capitalized at more than US$2 billion, in such fields like machinery, logistics, and renewable energy among others, while Vietnamese investors have poured US$250 million in 35 projects in Germany.

In addition, cooperation development is also a key pillar of the Viet Nam-Germany ties. Viet Nam always treasures the valuable support from the Government and people of Germany for its national construction and development cause.

Over the past three decades, Germany has provided over US$2 billion in official development assistance to finance major projects on economic reform, forestry development, green growth development, and vocational training in Viet Nam.

Germany’s experience and lessons regarding development model, exploitation of renewable energy, environmental protection, and vocational training have been valuable source of reference for Viet Nam to improve mechanisms and policies on socio-economic development, nature preservation, and human resource development, thus helping the Southeast Asian country achieve the Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule and implement the sustainable development goals.

On multilateral aspect, Viet Nam and Germany have maintained close coordination and mutual support at regional and international for a like ASEAN-EU, ASEM, and the UN.

The sides have shared common stance and vision on multilateralism, stable and rules-based order, protection of international law, and environmental protection; reached common voices over the settlement of regional and global challenges.

In 2020, as both Viet Nam and Germany serve as non-permanent members of the United, and concurrently, Viet Nam is ASEAN 2020 Chair while the latter holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half, the two countries agreed to actively grasp every opportunity in order to foster connectivity between Asia and Europe, thus contributing to peace and stability in the two continents as well as to security and development across the world.

The ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Alliance for Multilateralism Foreign Ministers’ Meeting initiated by Viet Nam and Germany, respectively, are vivid examples of the aforesaid cooperation spirit.

Looking back to 45-year history of the bilateral ties, Minh expressed his pleasure and pride in the dynamic and substantial advancement of the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership.

Indeed, the encouraging achievements and vast cooperation potential are among major driving forces for more extensive, energetic and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the next decades in accordance with the interests and aspirations of the two Governments and peoples, and for the world of peace, stability and prosperity./.