35 Years of FES in Vietnam: Fostering Dialogue, Advancing Equity
	Solid Bridge for People-to-people Relations between Vietnam and Germany

Vietnam’s relationships with Germany and the European Union (EU) are poised to deepen, becoming more comprehensive and effective, said Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam–Germany Friendship Association (VGFA), Dr. Nguyen Toan Thang at a seminar.

The event, co-hosted by the German–Vietnamese Society (DVG) and the FOM University of Applied Sciences, coincided with the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and drew a diverse group of political, economic, academic, and civil society representatives from both nations.

At the seminar.

Opening at the event, Prof. Dr Manuela Zipperling of FOM University and DVG Chairman Rolf Schulze reviewed the development achievements in the Vietnam-Germany relations, especially in the year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, focusing on this seminar and the meeting with representatives of the second generation of Vietnamese people in Germany in September in Hamburg, along with other events.

According to Dr. Nguyen Toan Thang, in today’s rapidly changing world rocked by wars, conflicts, energy crises, climate change, and tech explosions, the Vietnam–EU and Vietnam–Germany relations are increasingly vital for both sides.

Vietnam, a dynamically growing economy with active integration into the world, has great demand for stronger trade, investment, and advanced technologies. It is diving headfirst into sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation to ride the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he noted.

A highlight of the event was the screening of a documentary by German scholar Dr. Rainer Zitelmann, which chronicles Vietnam’s remarkable economic ascent. The 30-minute film traces the country’s journey from one of the world’s poorest nations to the 33rd largest economy, driven by the Doi Moi (Renewal) launched in 1986. These reforms slashed Vietnam’s poverty rate from 80% in the early 1990s to just 3% today. Zitelmann, whose 2023 book “How Nations Escape Poverty” cites Vietnam as a model for growth, noted that Germany sees Vietnam as a key partner in diversifying its international relationships.

Dr. Oliver Massmann, a legal expert, credited Vietnam’s economic transformation over the past more than three decades to its extensive global integration, with involvement in or negotiation of 17 free trade agreements. He also praised Vietnam’s proactive engagement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With a young, dynamic, and industrious workforce, Massmann expressed confidence that Vietnam’s goal of becoming a fully industrialised nation by 2045 is achievable.

Participants pose for a joint photo at the seminar. (Photo: VNA)

Education and vocational training were also focal points, with delegates commending the diligence of Vietnamese students and interns. Proposals included expanding Vietnam’s dual vocational training system and promoting Vietnamese language education in Germany by reopening Vietnamese language faculties at some universities in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Passau.

A suggestion by DVG Chairman Rolf Schulze to establish a Vietnam studies faculty at a German university was met with strong support.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu ​​Quang Minh thanked the DVG and FOM and the accompanying units for organizing this seminar, which is a forum for scholars, economists, educators, and social workers to look back on the development path and set out directions for the future of Vietnam-Germany relations.

The diplomat especially thanked the partners and organizations that have truly contributed and bridged the good friendship between the two countries, saying that the presence of delegates at the seminar is proof that this event was more successful than expected.

Recently, the new Government in Germany has introduced many changes in foreign policy. Vietnam is also aiming to organize the Party Congress in the next few months. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions and conflicts are occurring in many places around the world, causing many changes in the regional and global situation. In that context, the Vietnam-Germany relations based on the strategic partnership continue to be comprehensively expanded and achieve many important results, creating a strong driving force to bring the bilateral relationship to new heights.

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