Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and President of the European Council Antonio Costa, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 27, 2025 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Pham reiterated that the EU remains one of Viet Nam's leading strategic partners.

Addressing key priorities in bilateral relations, the Prime Minister underscored Viet Nam's strong political resolve and concrete actions to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. He called on the European Commission to soon dispatch an inspection team to Viet Nam to assess progress and consider removing the "yellow card" warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

He noted that he holds weekly meetings with ministries, sectors, and localities to accelerate IUU fishing prevention efforts. Viet Nam is also stepping up regional cooperation to promote sustainable fisheries, strengthen compliance capacity among fishermen and businesses, and gradually shift from traditional fishing to responsible and sustainable aquaculture.

Looking ahead, Pham suggested Viet Nam and the EU boost the exchange of high-level delegations, outline a roadmap to upgrade the Viet Nam–EU relationship, and expand trade and investment collaboration. He underscored the importance of making science, technology, and innovation major pillars of cooperation.

The Vietnamese leader called on both sides to fully leverage opportunities brought by the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), while removing obstacles facing enterprises. He urged the EU to speed up ratification of the EU–Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and encourage European investment in Viet Nam's priority sectors, including infrastructure development, renewable energy, and the green transition.

Pham also highlighted Viet Nam's suport for the EU's Global Gateway initiative as well as its role in strengthening ASEAN–EU cooperation, affirming that Viet Nam will continue serving as a bridge to promote connectivity with Southeast Asia.

In reply, President Costa welcomed Viet Nam's proposals and reaffirmed the EU's appreciation for Viet Nam's growing regional and global stature, particularly its robust economic performance. He also expressed satisfaction with discussions on upgrading ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, stressing the EU's commitment to deepening cooperation in trade and investment, sustainable development, digital innovation, addressing global challenges, and supporting a rules-based international order.

On regional and international developments, Costa emphasized the need for stronger coordination to advance multilateral cooperation. He noted the EU's priority of enhancing relations with ASEAN and regional partners, and praised Viet Nam's constructive contributions to peace and security as well as its steadfast support for international law amid evolving geopolitical tensions.