General Secretary, President To Lam's upcoming trip to elevate ties with Denmark, EU, Belgium: Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang
WVR - In a press interview, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has highlighted the strategic significance of the state visit to Denmark and official visits to the European Union (EU) and Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.
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Deputy Minister, could you elaborate on the significance and objectives of General Secretary and President To Lam's State visit to the Kingdom of Denmark, and the official visit to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium?
At the invitation of King Frederik X and Queen of the Kingdom of Denmark, President of the European Council António Costa, and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Bart De Wever, General Secretary and President To Lam, along with his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will conduct a State visit to the Kingdom of Denmark and official visits to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium from October 19-24, 2026.
The visit holds immense significance as it marks the first State visit to the Kingdom of Denmark by a General Secretary and the first official visit to the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Belgium by General Secretary and President To Lam, especially following Vietnam's successful organization of the 14th Party Congress and the 16th National Assembly elections. The visit conveys a strong message of the country's foreign policy in the new development phase, contributing to enhancing political trust and expanding cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, green growth, and sustainable development, serving the nation's construction and development efforts. It is also an opportunity for Vietnam to elevate comprehensive relations with Denmark, the EU, and Belgium, creating a turning point in cooperation towards more substantive and effective outcomes based on high political determination and shared strategic orientations.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang answers press questions. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The State visit to Denmark by General Secretary and President To Lam coincides with the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Throughout the 55-year history of Vietnam–Denmark relations, from strategic partnerships in climate change, energy, environment, and green growth to comprehensive and green strategic partnerships, both sides have built a solid foundation for cooperation across multiple fields. Based on the friendship, political trust, and excellent cooperation over the past 55 years, this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam is an opportunity for both sides to set strategic directions, elevate relations in the new development phase, and promote cooperation with Denmark as a model of exemplary collaboration between Vietnam and a Nordic partner.
In relations with the EU, especially in the context of the recent upgrade of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in January this year, this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam reaffirms Vietnam's pioneering role as ASEAN's gateway in cooperation with the EU. With vast cooperation potential and strong confidence in a promising future for bilateral relations, based on outstanding achievements over the past 35 years, the visit is also an occasion for both sides to deepen important cooperation pillars, particularly in trade, investment, science and technology, and human resource training, thereby building Vietnam–EU relations into a model within the ASEAN–EU cooperation framework.
With Belgium, the visit follows King Philippe's State visit to Vietnam in April 2025 and comes at a time when bilateral relations are on a favorable foundation after more than 50 years of diplomatic relations and eight years of implementing the strategic partnership framework in agriculture, characterized by high political trust, deepening understanding, and increasing connectivity. The visit aims for both sides to make significant strides in cooperation in areas where Belgium has strengths and Vietnam is prioritizing, such as science and technology, semiconductors, renewable energy, green agriculture, innovation, logistics, and smart ports.
Deputy Minister, could you assess Vietnam's relations with these partners in recent times, and what are your expectations for this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam?
I am pleased to note that Vietnam's relations with the three partners have developed very positively, increasingly going deeper, becoming more substantive and effective. Denmark, the EU, and Belgium are important partners in Vietnam's foreign policy and international integration. Based on friendship, political trust, and shared interests, cooperation with all three partners has been continuously expanded, from traditional fields to strategic areas, from political-diplomatic, economic, trade, and investment cooperation to defense-security, science and technology, and innovation, meeting the development needs of each side in the new phase.
Denmark was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam and also a strong supporter of our nation's struggle for independence and reunification. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Over the years, bilateral relations have made significant transitions from development aid to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. Today, Denmark has become one of the leading EU investors in Vietnam and stands out among Nordic partners for high-quality investment and green development. Projects by major Danish enterprises, especially in the fields of seaports, maritime transport, logistics, and green industries, vividly demonstrate the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries.
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| General Secretary and President To Lam, along with his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will conduct a State visit to the Kingdom of Denmark and official visits to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium from October 19-24. (Source: VNA) |
With the EU, after more than 35 years of diplomatic relations, Vietnam–EU relations have developed extensively and comprehensively across many fields. Notably, the upgrade of relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the visit to Vietnam by President of the European Council António Costa in January 2026 is a historic milestone, making Vietnam the first ASEAN country to have the highest framework of relations with the EU, reflecting the level of political trust and shared strategic vision in the new development phase. Economic cooperation is a highlight with the Vietnam–EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) showing positive effects after six years of implementation. The EU is currently Vietnam's fourth-largest trading partner and sixth-largest investor, while Vietnam has become the EU's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Other strategic cooperation areas such as science and technology, innovation, green transition, digital transformation, and marine economy are increasingly expanding, providing strong momentum for the development of bilateral relations.
The traditional friendship between Vietnam and Belgium has witnessed significant developments with political trust increasingly consolidated; economic, trade, investment, agriculture, education, and science and technology cooperation achieving many positive results, especially with the strategic partnership framework in agriculture established in 2018. I particularly appreciate the Belgian House of Representatives as the first and so far the only foreign parliament to pass a resolution calling for support for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims, reflecting Belgium's friendship, humanitarian spirit, and solidarity in overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam. With complementary strengths, the two countries have ample room to elevate cooperation to new heights.
In summary, European partners possess strengths in technology, management experience, and sustainable development solutions, while Vietnam is promoting growth model innovation, productivity enhancement, and competitiveness. We all hope that this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam will create a strategic shift, reinforce political trust at the highest level, elevate and redefine cooperation to a higher, more effective, and substantive level, while opening new cooperation opportunities to enhance development capacity and strategic autonomy for both Vietnam and its partners in each side's new development phase, thereby bringing tangible benefits to the people and businesses, and contributing positively to peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in both regions.
