Hanoi (VNA)🥂 – Vietnam attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Germany, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said while receiving Minister-President of State of Hessen of Germany Boris Rhein, who is on a working visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Welcoming Rhein’s visit ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 2025, Xuan expressed her belief that the trip will inject fresh momentum into strengthening bilateral ties. She highlighted the consistent growth and expansion of Vietnam-Germany relations over nearly five decades, encompassing politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, education, training, labor, science, technology, security, and defence. The fruitful cooperation between Vietnam and Hessen as well as between Vietnam and Germany is clearly demonstrated in the efficient and successful operation of the Vietnamese-German University, which has trained high-quality human resources for Vietnam. Additionally, the presence of numerous Hessen businesses in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese enterprises in Hessen, has significantly contributed to this partnership, Xuan said. She called on Hessen authorities to work towards promoting the two countries' strategic partnership to a new height and fostering political trust amid a volatile global and regional landscape. She encouraged businesses from Hessen to invest in Vietnam, supporting the nation’s transition to green growth and its climate change mitigation efforts. Additionally, she urged Hessen to advocate for Germany’s Parliament to expedite the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), facilitating equitable and mutually beneficial investment. For his part, Minister-President Rhein acknowledged the potential for further collaboration, particularly in areas that Vietnam needs and Hesse has strength, such as education, finance, science, technology, labour, and renewable energy. He proposed renewing the priority cooperation agreement signed between Vietnam and Hessen in 2012, emphasising that the Vietnamese-Germany University project remains a top priority for the state. Rhein reaffirmed Hessen’s commitment to coordinating with Vietnam to foster the institution’s growth. Both sides agreed to work closely in organising activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations (September 23, 1975 – 2025)./.