Vietnam acts as bridge for ASEAN-EU relations: experts
Vietnam has the potential to become a country that plays an important role in the relationship between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
EU is now Vietnam’s leading trade partner (Photo: VNA)
Brussels (VNA) - Vietnam has the potential tobecome a country that plays an important role in the relationship between theEuropean Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This is a common assessment made by European politicians,experts and entrepreneurs on the threshold of a commemorative summit tocelebrate the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations slated forDecember 14 in Brussels, Belgium.
First Vice President of the Belgian Senate Andries Gryffroysaid that Vietnam has an important strategic geological position in theIndo-Pacific, and its economy is currently an important link in the supplychain and economic value of ASEAN with many advantages such as: a stable macroenvironment, a dynamic economy, an increasingly open consumer market, a stablepolitical background and consistency in investment policies for economicdevelopment.
Therefore, Vietnam plays an important role in the relationshipbetween ASEAN and the EU, he stressed.
Also emphasising Vietnam's role as a bridge between ASEANand the EU, Jeroen Cooreman, who is in charge of bilateral relations at theBelgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Vietnam's commitment on renewableenergy development, green and sustainable development and digitaltransformation are in line with Belgium's priorities as well as theEU's agenda.
Meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and representatives from European Investment Bank (Photo: VNA)
From the perspective of commercial organisations, theFlanders Chamber of Commerce assessed that in addition to the role as a bridgebetween the two regions, the Vietnamese market with a young population is anattractive destination for European investors, especially in areas such asclean technology, food, beverage and logistics.
The Vietnam-EU relationship is said to be at its best ever. From an aid recipient,Vietnam has now become an equal and mutually beneficial partner of the EU.
Statistics of the European Institute for Asian Studies showthat the EU is now Vietnam’s leading trade partner, third largest export marketand fifth biggest import market. Two-way trade reached 57.1 billion EUR (60.2billion USD) in the first nine months of this year, up 10.3% year-on-year.
The union is also the fifth largest investor in Vietnam, with atotal registered capital of 27.6 billion USD as of August 2022. In theJanuary-August period alone, EU businesses poured 2.2 billion USD in Vietnam,up 69.6% year-on-year./.
A seminar on how to fully tap the benefits of imports and investment from the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) was held by the Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) Magazine on December 6.
Vietnam and the European Union (EU) should work together to accelerate the transition towards “a carbon-neutral, resource-efficient and circular economy” to tackle climate change, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries has said.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking delegation left Hanoi early December 9 on a trip to attend a summit commemorating the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU relations and pay official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium from December 9 to 16.
The EU and ASEAN have maintained good relations so far, but the EU has begun to pay more attention to promoting relations with ASEAN amidst the current geo-political context, said Axel Goethals, CEO of the European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS).
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
EU is now Vietnam’s leading trade partner (Photo: VNA) 
Meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and representatives from European Investment Bank (Photo: VNA) 
