President Luong Cuong hosts welcome ceremony for European Council President António Costa
WVR - On the morning of January 29, at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong presided over the official welcome ceremony for European Council President António Costa.
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| At the invitation of President Luong Cuong, European Council President António Costa is on an official visit to Vietnam from January 28-29, 2026. |
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| The official visit of European Council President António Costa to Vietnam holds significant importance for Vietnam-EU relations. Notably, it marks the visit of a top EU leader to Vietnam right after the success of the 14th National Congress of the Party. |
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| The visit demonstrates the EU's recognition and high regard for Vietnam's correct, independent, and self-reliant foreign policy, which emphasizes multilateral and diversified international relations. |
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| Vietnam and the EU established diplomatic relations on November 28, 1990. The bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the EU reached over 66.8 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025, a 6.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. |
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| Currently, the EU is Vietnam's fourth-largest trading partner (after China, the US, and Republic of Korea), the third-largest export market, and the fifth-largest import market. Vietnam is the EU's 16th largest trading partner and the largest in ASEAN. |
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| According to the EU, EU-Vietnam relations have come a long way in 35 years, evolving from initial humanitarian cooperation to one of the EU's most extensive and comprehensive relationships in the region. |
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| The two sides currently have a dense network of cooperation agreements in areas such as trade, sustainable development, innovation, governance, security, and people-to-people exchanges. |
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| The choice of Vietnam as a key destination in the European Council President's itinerary sends a clear message that the EU seeks to strengthen relations with countries sharing commitments to open and free trade, respect for international law, and the multilateral system. |
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| EU Ambassador to Vietnam, Julien Guerrier, stated: “This is the ripe time for both sides to elevate their relationship, opening a new phase of deeper and more substantive cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to both sides and their people.” |
