Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son attends the high-level discussion at the 2nd Global Gateway Forum in Brussels
WVR - Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn emphasized that Vietnam is steadfast in maintaining self-reliance, acting responsibly, and actively engaging in substantive cooperation with all partners.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn speaking at the discussion session. (Source: Global Gateway Forum Organizing Committee) |
On the afternoon of October 9, within the framework of the second Global Gateway Forum (GGF2) in Brussels, Belgium, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son participated in a high-level discussion on "The World Situation", alongside international leaders and officials such as EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Josef Síkela, Ghana's Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Colombia's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Diana Marcela Morales Roja, and European Investment Bank President Nadia Calvino.
Deputy Prime Minister Son noted that the world is undergoing significant transformations, reflected in profound changes in international relations, the balance of power among major countries, and the emergence of non-traditional challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and cybersecurity.
The Deputy Prime Minister observed that the global economy is shifting markedly, with increasing trends of protectionism and regionalization of supply chains, while science and technology have become key drivers for green growth and sustainable development.
International institutions are also under pressure to reform to adapt to new circumstances, yet multilateral cooperation remains an indispensable pillar in global governance.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that science and technology both expand cooperation opportunities and increase strategic competition, posing new risks to national sovereignty if not well managed. Additionally, inequality, environmental degradation, and technological access disparities are eroding social trust and causing instability in many regions.
“These trends reflect a complex, interdependent world that is constantly changing. Each nation needs to proactively adapt, turning challenges into opportunities, contributing to building a more stable and inclusive international order,” Deputy Prime Minister Son asserted.
From an ASEAN member's perspective, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that the region's strength lies in its unity in diversity, based on three core principles: Inclusiveness, flexibility, and diversification. These values help ASEAN maintain solidarity, adapt, and remain resilient amid global fluctuations, and can inspire other regions in maintaining peace and promoting international cooperation.
To adapt to the global geopolitical and geo-economic landscape, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam is steadfast in its goal of maintaining peace, stability, and creating favourable conditions for national development. Vietnam pursues an independence, self-reliance, diversified, and multilateral foreign policy, being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community.
Vietnam is promoting a green economy, deep integration, market diversification, and seizing opportunities from science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation to form new growth drivers.
Moreover, Vietnam is expanding partnerships across all fields, enhancing resilience to global fluctuations, and investing heavily in science and technology, identifying 11 strategic technologies to strengthen national autonomy, aiming to become a modern industrialized nation by 2030 and a high-income developed country by 2045.
Sharing recent decisive efforts by the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam, determined to usher the country into a new era of development, including accelerating institutional reform, streamlining the apparatus, and reducing administrative procedures, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam desires and calls for strengthened investment partnerships with international partners, including those from the European Union (EU).
The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam continues to promote multilateral cooperation, respect international law and the United Nations Charter, and actively participate in maintaining peace, sustainable development, ensuring peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation.
“Vietnam is resolute in maintaining self-reliance, acting responsibly, and proactively engaging in substantive cooperation with all partners. This is how we protect national interests while contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous world,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
At the discussion session, international speakers also shared views on the world situation, emphasizing the need to mitigate risks in economic and trade relations amid deepening globalization.
GGF is a strategic dialogue channel bringing together leaders from countries, financial institutions, and international businesses, aiming to promote investment cooperation and sustainable development, especially within the framework of the EU's Global Gateway Strategy.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and Ms. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. (Source: VNA) |
On the occasion of attending GGF2, Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn met with Ms. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President of the European Commission (EC) in charge of clean, just, and competitive transition at the EC headquarters.
Welcoming the Deputy Prime Minister to Brussels for the Forum, Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera congratulated and expressed her impression with Vietnam's development achievements, especially the 8% GDP growth amid numerous international and domestic challenges.
Sharing with the losses Vietnam and its people are suffering due to storms and floods, the EC Executive Vice President expressed the EU's readiness to support, not only in relief but also in cooperation to enhance early warning and disaster prevention capabilities, thereby minimizing losses and risks from natural disasters. The EU is confident as a potential partner, currently possessing advanced satellite, geological exploration, and crisis management technologies.
Thanking the EU for its concern, sharing, and willingness to support and cooperate, Deputy Prime Minister Son emphasized that Vietnam is one of the countries heavily affected by climate change, frequently facing extreme weather conditions, causing significant damage and loss of life and property.
The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the idea of cooperation on disaster response and rescue support from the EU; he also suggested that both sides should strengthen cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change, applying science and technology in responding to climate change.
Regarding environmental issues, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed that the EU support and enhance the capacity of Vietnamese enterprises in controlling greenhouse gas emissions and consider a reasonable roadmap for applying the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), providing support for developing countries, ensuring a fair and sustainable adaptation process.
Discussing green economy, technology development, digital transformation, and renewable energy, both sides expressed satisfaction with recent positive developments. Executive Vice President Ribera praised Vietnam's continued implementation of commitments to green growth and sustainable development; she stated that the EU will continue to be a reliable and potential partner to promote cooperation in high-quality sustainable projects on infrastructure, green growth, digital transformation, and clean energy, in line with Vietnam's strategic orientations.
Deputy Prime Minister Son affirmed that Vietnam values the EU's global role in green development; he expressed gratitude for the EU's financial support packages for projects aimed at clean energy transition, infrastructure development, and green and digital connectivity between the two regions, especially the support package for Vietnam's Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the ASEAN Power Grid announced at this GGF.
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| Overview of the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and Ms. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice President of the EC, in charge of clean, just, and competitive transition. (Source: VNA) |
Looking to the future, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that both sides enhance cooperation and effectively implement projects within the JETP framework, encouraging the EU to continue playing a leading role in the International Partners Group implementing JETP to support pilot projects on offshore wind power, renewable energy, and smart grids.
Additionally, Vietnam and the EU need to promote cooperation in technology transfer and green innovation, developing joint research projects on advanced technologies such as wind power equipment manufacturing, solar panels, energy storage and green hydrogen, low-emission materials, circular industry, and reducing heavy industrial emissions.
As both sides aim to upgrade relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that alongside continuing to leverage achievements in trade and investment, cooperation in science and technology should become a new driving force in bilateral relations in the new phase.
The Deputy Prime Minister conveyed invitations from Vietnam's key leaders to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU leaders to visit Vietnam soon, and he also invited Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera to visit Vietnam to promote cooperation between the two sides, especially in the field of green transition. The EU Executive Vice President gladly accepted the invitation and looks forward to visiting Vietnam soon.
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| JETP package announcement ceremony. (Source: Global Gateway Forum Organizing Committee) |
Within the framework of the Forum, the EU announced a support package worth 430 million Euros to promote the Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project, one of the key projects under Vietnam's JETP.
The announcement ceremony was attended by European Commissioner for Energy Jozef Síkela and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn, along with representatives of countries and partners participating in the Forum.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner Jozef Síkela emphasized that the Bac Ai Project is a crucial foundation in the joint efforts of Vietnam and Europe to build a green, stable, and sustainable energy system, while attracting private investment and promoting green growth. Mr. Síkela affirmed that through the Global Gateway initiative, the EU is turning commitments into concrete actions for people, the planet, and shared prosperity.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and delegates at the JETP package announcement ceremony. (Source: Global Gateway Forum Organizing Committee) |
The Bac Ai Pumped Storage Hydropower Project is expected to enhance the stability of the national power system, facilitate the expansion of renewable energy development, and contribute to achieving Vietnam's carbon emission reduction and sustainable development goals.
The 430 million Euro support package is part of the cooperation framework of Team Europe, including the EU, member states, and development financial institutions such as the French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), German Development Bank (KfW), Italy's National Development Agency (CDP), and the Promotion and Participation Company for Economic Cooperation (PROPARCO), the private sector investment arm of AFD.
During the 2021-2027 period, the EU commits to supporting Vietnam with at least 293 million Euros, alongside a total contribution from European partners exceeding 2.8 billion Euros for JETP. This investment will contribute to promoting green infrastructure development, sustainable energy transition, and enhancing electricity connectivity in the ASEAN region.
