Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang attends seminar marking 50 years of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations
WVR - On the morning of December 17, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a seminar to mark 50 years of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations, reflecting on half a century of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The event also explored directions and solutions to further promote bilateral relations in the coming period.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang delivers the opening speech at the discussion commemorating 50 years of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
The discussion was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, with the participation of German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Margarete Barth, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh, Consul General of Vietnam in Frankfurt Luu Xuan Dong, along with former ambassadors, representatives of German institutes and associations in Vietnam, representatives from Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, businesses, as well as experts, scholars, and Vietnamese alumni who have worked, studied, and researched in Germany, those who have been and are closely associated with Vietnam-Germany relations.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Thu Hang emphasized that the bond between the people and the political determination of the leaders of Vietnam and Germany have helped the two countries' relations overcome historical challenges and fluctuations, becoming increasingly strong, stable, and substantive. Significant milestones in various fields of cooperation, from political-diplomatic, investment, development cooperation, education-training, labor, energy, and climate change response, have contributed to the development of each country and addressed common challenges.
Deputy Foreign Minister Thu Hang emphasized: "With the foundation of 50 years of cooperation, the accompaniment of stakeholders at all levels, and the political determination from both sides, we have every reason to believe that Vietnam-Germany relations will continue to be renewed, deepened, and strengthened in the coming time".
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| Overview of the seminar. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Margarete Barth affirmed that over the decades, the two countries have consolidated and deepened bilateral cooperation. This was prominently marked in 2011 when the leaders of the two countries established a Strategic Partnership.
The Ambassador shared that besides bilateral cooperation, the two countries need to continue to strengthen closer coordination at multilateral forums in addressing regional and international issues of mutual concern and promoting initiatives proposed or participated in by each side. With a foundation of political trust and increasingly intertwined common interests, Germany and Vietnam have ample room to promote cooperation, contributing positively to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
At the discussion, with two sessions focusing on achievements and lessons learned over the past 50 years of Vietnam-Germany relations and shaping the future of the relationship, there were more than 20 presentations, opinions, and lively exchanges from managers, experts, scholars, business representatives, and organizations from both countries. They focused on clarifying outstanding results, sharing practical cooperation experiences, and proposing many specific solutions and initiatives that are and will directly contribute to strengthening and deepening the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership in the coming time.
Speeches at the discussion, from various perspectives, unanimously agreed that Vietnam-Germany relations have transcended the framework of ordinary bilateral cooperation, becoming a partnership with depth, high reliability, and increasingly tight-knit interests.
Furthermore, the speakers emphasized that the most important foundation of Vietnam-Germany relations is political trust, mutual respect, and a substantive, long-term approach. Regular dialogues, exchanges, and delegation visits at all levels across all channels have facilitated effective handling of differences and expanded cooperation in new areas, aligning with each country's development priorities.
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| German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Margarete Barth speaking at the event. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Besides the State diplomatic channel, the role of localities, associations, research and training institutions, the business community, and representatives of German political parties in Vietnam continues to be affirmed as important forces, contributing to deepening the content of Vietnam-Germany relations in a comprehensive and sustainable direction.
Expressing gratitude to the German Embassy in Vietnam, German partners operating in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities, organizations, and businesses for actively participating, accompanying, and supporting activities chaired by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Thu Hang highly appreciated the heartfelt and responsible exchanges. She affirmed that the presentations have helped clarify significant achievements and important lessons over the past 50 years, while also opening up many practical directions and measures for the next phase of Vietnam-Germany relations.
The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that cooperation, trade, and investment continue to be important pillars in the two countries' relations, needing to be promoted in a stable, balanced, and sustainable manner, with particular emphasis on the quality and effectiveness of cooperation projects. She also affirmed that with the effective implementation of the Vietnam-EU Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and when the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) comes into effect, the two countries will have more opportunities to expand cooperation in the future.
To ensure strategic cooperation frameworks are substantive, the Deputy Foreign Minister suggested strengthening connections between localities, businesses, and aligning central cooperation with grassroots cooperation, thereby forming specific programs and projects that bring practical benefits to both sides.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le ThiThu Hang appreciates the exchanges at the discussion. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Additionally, priority should be given to promoting research cooperation, science and technology, enhancing joint research, linking institutes, schools, and businesses, and considering technology transfer as an important requirement in mutually beneficial cooperation, not only in relations with Germany but also as a general direction for Vietnam with other international partners.
Emphasizing that human factors are the foundation of all cooperation, the Deputy Foreign Minister highlighted the role of vocational training cooperation and human resource development, affirming that people-to-people exchanges, cooperation between localities, friendship organizations, and youth from both countries are crucial in enhancing mutual understanding and educating the next generation, ensuring that the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership continues to develop sustainably and long-term.
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang expressed confidence that with the foundation of 50 years of friendship, political will, and the spirit of cooperation from both sides, Vietnam-Germany relations will continue to be elevated to new heights, meeting the long-term interests of each country and contributing positively to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
