EU Council President reaffirms strong Vietnam ties on Reunification Day
Vietnam has urged deeper dialogue with the European Union (EU) to resolve challenges and boost economic cooperation to strengthen their strategic partnership.
THE HANOI TIMES — European Council President Antonio Costa praised Vietnam's reunification (April 30, 1975-2025) and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to deepening strategic ties during his telephone conversation with Party General Secretary To Lam on April 30.
President Costa described the occasion as a great event not only for Vietnam but also for the world's conscience.
To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, holds a telephone conversation with Antonio Costa, President of the European Council. Photos: VNA
At the meeting, General Secretary To Lam said the 1975 Victory is a milestone in Vietnam's national defense and development, a turning point for peace, unity, independence, democracy, and prosperity for Vietnam. He thanked the international community, including EU member states, for their valuable support.
Lam thanked President Costa for his interest in promoting Vietnam-EU relations that range from political and diplomatic cooperation, trade and investment, defense and security, to emerging areas such as green transition, science and technology, and innovation.
Amid global trade challenges, the Party chief reaffirmed the country's commitment to multilateralization, diversification, and mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners, including the EU member states. He called for balanced and sustainable trade cooperation for common development.
General Secretary To Lam at the phone talk with European Council President Antonio Costa.
To Lam urged both sides to strengthen dialogue and coordination to remove obstacles and boost economic cooperation in the near future.
Costa reiterated that the EU and Vietnam are important, reliable, and stable partners. He stressed that Vietnam is an important pillar of the EU in Southeast Asia and that the EU-Vietnam partnership deserves to be taken to a new level.
The EU is proud to be part of Vietnam's network of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for further cooperation in climate change, transport, infrastructure, green transition, digital transformation, and innovation.
He pledged to promote the bilateral priorities outlined by General Secretary To Lam. These include the effective implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), encouraging remaining EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and supporting Vietnam under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Costa added that he would seek the European Commission's review of the removal of the IUU yellow card for Vietnam's seafood exports.
On regional and international issues, General Secretary To Lam welcomed the EU's initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region that stressed the importance of a balanced approach for regional stability.
The two leaders agreed that Vietnam and the EU should strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums to promote global peace, security, and stability. They also reaffirmed their support for the peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea (South China Sea) based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), to ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the region.
