Vietnam and EU leaders meet in Brussels to deepen new strategic partnership

• 2026-10-23
• Europe
• News Desk
• Source: European Commission https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/jp_26_2234

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Tô Lâm met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Brussels on 22 October 2026 for talks on bilateral cooperation, regional security and global challenges, according to a joint press release issued after the visit. The two sides welcomed the momentum in relations since ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2026.

Key facts

What did the two sides agree on?

• Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, held talks in Brussels on 22 October 2026 with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.
• The EU and Viet Nam elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2026.
• The leaders called for full implementation of the EU–Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement and swift ratification of the Investment Protection Agreement.
• Both sides agreed to work towards cooperation on Critical Raw Materials and to deepen work on technology, education, the green transition, strategic infrastructure and the blue economy.
• The leaders looked ahead to the EU–ASEAN Commemorative Summit in 2027, which marks 50 years of EU–ASEAN relations.

The joint statement said the European Union and Viet Nam recognised the importance of strengthening resilience, diversifying partnerships and promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, including through the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the partnership, citing Global Gateway investments and the Just Energy Transition Partnership. They also agreed to work towards developing cooperation on Critical Raw Materials — a sector of growing interest to European industry as it seeks to reduce supply-chain dependence.

Beyond trade, the two sides said they would continue to deepen cooperation on technology and innovation, education and training, the green transition, strategic infrastructure, the circular economy and the blue economy. Where does defence cooperation fit?

The statement said both sides recognised the potential for cooperation in defence and security, in line with their respective laws, priorities and policies. They welcomed the role of the EU–Viet Nam Defence and Security Dialogue and existing frameworks covering maritime safety and security, cybersecurity, crisis management and capacity-building.

The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including through the dedicated bilateral dialogue between the two sides. What is the wider context?

The talks come as Brussels seeks to widen its network of trade and investment partners across the Indo-Pacific. The statement underscored the importance both sides attach to effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order.

Presidents von der Leyen and Costa welcomed Viet Nam's constructive role in ASEAN, the Southeast Asian bloc of which Hanoi is a member. For European exporters and investors, the call to implement the free trade agreement fully and to ratify the investment protection pact points to closer scrutiny of remaining barriers to market access. What happens next?

The statement set no deadline for the ratification of the Investment Protection Agreement. Both sides said they looked forward to the EU–ASEAN Commemorative Summit in 2027, which will mark 50 years of relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Source: European Commission