Strengthening Cooperation between Hanoi and Lichtenberg District, Germany
	Human Resource Cooperation Tightens Vietnam-Germany Friendship

Delegates pose for a commemorative photo at the ceremony celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) in Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The event was attended by Helga Barth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam; Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs; Axel Neubert, Resident Representative of HSF in Vietnam; along with numerous friends, partners, experts, and representatives of central and local agencies from Vietnam and Germany.

Speaking at the ceremony, German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Barth stated that since establishing its office in Vietnam, HSF has consistently maintained its commitment to supporting sustainable development goals, effective governance, and practical solutions serving the Vietnamese people. According to her, the Foundation’s cooperation programs have continuously been adjusted to meet the needs of Vietnamese partners as well as the evolving development context of society.

Ambassador Helga Barth highlighted three key areas of cooperation between HSF and its Vietnamese partners: social welfare, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. In the field of social welfare, HSF has coordinated with Vietnamese agencies and experts to promote dialogue and professional exchanges on social insurance, labor policies, vocational training, and inclusive development. In the environmental sector, the Foundation has accompanied Vietnamese partners in programs related to environmental governance, sustainable urban development, resource management, and raising ecological awareness. Regarding climate change adaptation, HSF has worked with partners to strengthen community resilience, share international experience, and promote climate-adaptive community development models.

Helga Barth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Ambassador Helga Barth, over the past 15 years, more than 10,000 Vietnamese officials at various levels have participated in training programs, seminars, workshops, and professional exchanges supported by HSF. These programs have been flexibly adjusted in line with Vietnam’s new policy priorities and emerging challenges. The Ambassador noted that while capacity-building may not produce tangible results as visible as infrastructure projects, its impact is foundational and long-lasting for sustainable development and effective national governance.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs, said that although HSF’s representative office in Vietnam was officially established in 2011, the Foundation’s presence and cooperation with Vietnam began in the early 1990s. According to him, this journey of cooperation not only reflects the long-term commitment of an international organization to Vietnam, but also demonstrates the depth of trust, companionship, and sustainable partnership between the two sides.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Hung, throughout many years of operation in Vietnam, HSF has become one of the German political foundations recognized for its active, professional, and reliable operations through a close network of cooperation with central agencies, local authorities, research institutes, universities, and social organizations. The Foundation’s cooperation programs have not only provided technical support but have also made practical contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and international integration process.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He also highly appreciated HSF’s contributions to promoting people-to-people exchanges and expert connectivity between the two countries. According to him, beyond specific projects and programs, the greatest value HSF has built lies in the spirit of sincere cooperation and the bond between the people of Vietnam and Germany through professional exchanges, experience sharing, and policy cooperation activities.

As Vietnam moves toward long-term development goals with increasing demands for innovation, green transformation, human resource quality, and governance capacity, Nguyen Ngoc Hung said international organizations such as HSF would continue to play an important role through strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing, policy consultation, and international cooperation in the fields of sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and inclusive social development.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Nguyen Ngoc Hung presented a Certificate of Merit to HSF in recognition of the organization’s positive contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development during the 2011-2026 period.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung presents the Certificate of Merit from the Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations to HSF. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Addressing the ceremony, Axel Neubert, Resident Representative of HSF in Vietnam, expressed his appreciation for receiving the Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. According to him, the most meaningful achievement for HSF is the trust cultivated between the Foundation and its Vietnamese partners throughout the cooperation process. He noted that in the context of increasingly complex international relations, a rapidly changing development cooperation environment, and mounting pressure on funding for international programs in many parts of the world, maintaining long-term commitments with partners has become even more important.

“We are a reliable partner, and in the next 15 years, or even longer, we will continue to be a reliable partner,” Axel Neubert affirmed.

Axel Neubert, Resident Representative of HSF in Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Axel Neubert, HSF will continue to maintain its strong commitment to Vietnam in the areas of sustainable development, governance, green transformation, climate change adaptation, and human resource capacity building. He said these commitments are not only significant for specific cooperation programs but also contribute to strengthening the long-term friendship and partnership between Germany and Vietnam.

Delegates at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

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