Prime Minister Le Minh Hung affirmed Vietnam's high regard for its relationship with Germany during a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 28/8, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Germany stands as Vietnam's top trade partner and a significant investor within the European Union (EU). Prime Minister Le Minh Hung urged both nations to forge a new breakthrough in their relationship, one that reflects its full potential and scale, with the goal of rapidly achieving 20 billion USD in bilateral trade.

He affirmed Vietnam consistently provides favorable conditions for foreign investors, encouraging German businesses to expand investments in key sectors such as mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, healthcare, and energy transition.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. *Photo: Vietnam News Agency*

The Prime Minister also proposed strengthening financial and stock market connections between the two countries. He encouraged international financial institutions and investors to participate in Vietnam's international financial center.

Commending Germany's full ratification of the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), Prime Minister Le Minh Hung urged Germany to continue its efforts. He called on Germany to encourage other European Union (EU) member states to ratify the agreement promptly and to support the European Commission in lifting the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) yellow card imposed on Vietnamese seafood.

In defense, security, labor cooperation, and human resource development, the Prime Minister suggested expanding collaboration in United Nations peacekeeping operations. He also advocated for promoting a dual vocational training model in Vietnam that aligns with German standards. Furthermore, Vietnam hopes the German government will expand scholarship programs, providing more opportunities for Vietnamese students and officials to study and conduct research in Germany.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung also expressed a desire for Germany to simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens. He sought favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Germany to integrate more deeply, enabling them to continue serving as a bridge of friendship between the two nations.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz affirmed that bilateral relations are developing well, possessing the full foundation and potential to reach new heights.

Merz expressed his desire to bolster the presence of German businesses in Vietnam through effective, large-scale cooperation projects. He also aimed to vigorously promote trade, investment, expand energy collaboration, and participate in Vietnam's strategic transport infrastructure initiatives.

The German Chancellor agreed to strengthen cooperation across several areas: transport, logistics, aviation connectivity, green transition, and climate change response. This includes effectively implementing the framework of the Vietnam - Germany Energy Partnership.

Merz further agreed to elevate science-technology and innovation as key pillars of bilateral relations moving forward. This involves promoting joint research projects and expanding cooperation in training experts and engineers in strategic technology fields.

Thanh Tam