Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's visit to Vietnam: Five key outcomes and a vision for 2030
WVR - The World and Vietnam Report is pleased to present its interview with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van on the official visit of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Vietnam-Poland ties become strategic partnership.
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| Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announce the upgrade of Vietnam - Poland relations to a Strategic Partnership. (Photo: Nhan Dan) Newspaper) |
Deputy Minister, could you share the significance of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's official visit to Vietnam from October 24-26?
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van. (Photo: Bao Chi) |
At the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid an official visit to Vietnam from October 24 to 26, 2026.
The official visit of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to Vietnam marks a significant milestone in the 76-year diplomatic relations between the two countries. Returning to Vietnam after 16 years, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Vietnamese leaders decided to upgrade the relationship to a Strategic Partnership, ushering in a new phase of cooperation based on traditional friendship and political trust cultivated by many generations.
The significance of the visit is reflected in four aspects:
Firstly, elevating the relationship between two traditional friends, creating a long-term cooperative framework. Establishing the Strategic Partnership during the visit demonstrates the importance and determination of both countries to deepen political trust, align interests, and expand cooperation. Vietnam considers Poland a top priority partner in Central and Eastern Europe; Poland affirms Vietnam as a leading partner in Southeast Asia and one of the most important partners in Asia.
Secondly, expanding development space for both countries. Poland's strengths in industry, science, technology, education, and maritime economy align with Vietnam's development needs. Combining these strengths with Vietnam's market, production capacity, and position in the regional supply chain will create more opportunities for businesses from both countries, while enhancing connectivity between ASEAN and the European Union.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper) |
Thirdly, creating momentum to transform friendship into tangible cooperative results. To implement the Joint Declaration on establishing the Strategic Partnership, both sides have adopted an Action Plan for the period 2026 - 2030, identifying priorities to implement the new framework. This is also a step to concretize Vietnam's independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, which always values traditional partners and friends.
Fourthly, strengthening Vietnam's partner network in Europe, creating additional momentum for Vietnam - EU relations. The visit follows the visit to Denmark, the European Union (EU), and Belgium by General Secretary, President To Lam, in the context of Vietnam and the EU having upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The establishment of a Strategic Partnership with Poland continues this positive development momentum, contributing to deepening Vietnam's relations with key partners in Europe, while creating a foundation to promote more substantive and effective Vietnam - EU cooperation.
What we expect is that the new stature of the relationship will be reflected in higher quality cooperation, more effective joint projects, and more specific benefits for the people and businesses of both countries.
Deputy Minister, could you highlight the key outcomes achieved during the visit? What will both sides do to implement these outcomes?
Besides the very important and prominent outcome of establishing the Vietnam - Poland Strategic Partnership and adopting the Action Plan for the period 2026 - 2030, both sides have reached a high consensus on the goals and directions of cooperation to make the relationship more substantive.
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| National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper) |
Firstly, strengthening political trust and coordination mechanisms. Through exchanges with high-level Vietnamese leaders, both sides affirmed their determination to maintain regular contact at all levels and channels, especially at the high level; enhance the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, including resuming the Intergovernmental Committee meeting on economic cooperation and maintaining Deputy Ministerial-level Political Consultations. Parliamentary cooperation will contribute to perfecting the legal environment and supervising the implementation of agreements.
Secondly, setting specific goals for economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Both sides agreed to strive to raise bilateral trade turnover to 6 billion USD by 2030, in a balanced, sustainable, and mutually beneficial manner; effectively utilize the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), reduce barriers, and facilitate market access for each other's goods. The two countries encourage exemplary investment projects in complementary fields such as processing and manufacturing industries, information technology, pharmaceuticals, energy, and logistics, thereby leveraging each country's gateway role into the ASEAN and EU markets.
Thirdly, expanding cooperation to directly serve development priorities and ensure security. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in science - technology, innovation, and digital transformation; promote connectivity between universities, research institutes, and businesses, linking training with research, technology transfer, and production needs. Directions in maritime economy, clean energy, and high technology open up long-term cooperation potential. Defense and security cooperation continues to be promoted in line with each side's needs and capabilities, focusing on training, defense industry, combating transnational crime, and high-tech crime.
Fourthly, enhancing connections between the peoples of the two countries. The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents in higher education and tourism. Both sides welcomed LOT Airlines' reopening of direct flights, creating more conditions for tourism, business, and people-to-people exchanges; and agreed to continue facilitating the residence, work, and study of citizens from both countries, leveraging the role of the Vietnamese community in Poland as a bridge.
Fifthly, strengthening coordination on regional and international issues. Both sides affirmed the central role of the United Nations, emphasized international law, and resolved disputes by peaceful means; highlighted the importance of peace, stability, security, cooperation, and development in each region and globally, ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982. The two countries also agreed to promote cooperation within the Vietnam - EU, Poland - ASEAN, and ASEAN - EU frameworks.
To implement these outcomes, the primary focus is to concretize the Action Plan for the period 2026 - 2030 into tasks, programs, and projects, clearly identifying focal agencies, resources, timelines, and expected results. Both sides need to effectively operate cooperation mechanisms, select priority projects with feasibility and impact; and regularly review progress, promptly addressing obstacles for ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses.
The measure of success for the Strategic Partnership framework is the commitments fulfilled, the projects implemented, and the benefits truly enjoyed by the people and businesses. With the solid foundation of friendship and the determination of the leaders of both countries, we have reason to believe that Vietnam - Poland relations will achieve new developments, commensurate with the potential and stature of the relationship.
