Vietnam becomes EU’s first Southeast Asian comprehensive strategic partner

Vietnam and the European Union have agreed to elevate their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Luong Cuong and European Council President António Costa announced at a press conference in Hanoi on January 29 following high-level talks.

President Luong Cuong said both sides recognised the steady and productive development of Vietnam–EU relations across a wide range of sectors over more than 35 years since diplomatic relations were established on November 28, 1990. He stressed that cooperation between Hanoi and Brussels still holds significant potential, and that the decision to raise relations to the highest level reflects the long-term vision of both sides at a new stage of partnership.

“Economic cooperation remains an important driving force in the development of bilateral relations. We are determined to work closely to maintain and strengthen free trade, promote and expand market access, effectively implement the Vietnam–EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and facilitate the early completion of the ratification of the Vietnam–EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA),” Luong Cuong said.

He added that Vietnam has proposed the EU intensify cooperation in the maritime economy, support the country’s sustainable fisheries development, and lift the “yellow card” on Vietnamese seafood as soon as possible. The Vietnamese leader also welcomed increased EU investment in new priority areas of mutual interest, including green and digital transformation, the energy transition, and the effective implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Antonio Costa, in turn, noted that Vietnam has become the first Southeast Asian country to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU. He said the move highlights Vietnam’s growing importance in EU policy and the vast potential for cooperation across many fields — from trade, clean energy and the maritime economy to defence, security, and addressing regional and global challenges.

“Today, we have reached an important new milestone in our bilateral relations by elevating them to the highest level. This decision fully reflects the depth and breadth of our partnership today, as well as our expectations for its further development in the future in areas such as trade, green and digital transformation, security, and people-to-people diplomacy,” Costa said.