Vietnam treasures multi-faceted cooperation with Germany: Deputy PM
The Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach much importance to the multi-faceted cooperation with Germany, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh has affirmed.
He made the statement while having working sessions with Vice-President of the German Bundestag Bodo Ramelow, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katharina Reiche, and deputy head of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate Alexander Schweitzer as part of his working visit to the European country from September 25 to October 1.
Their discussions focused on the bilateral relations, inter-parliamentary ties, and cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the SPD. Both sides expressed their concerns over rising global protectionism and agreed to outline major orientations to expand collaboration in the coming time.
German leaders welcomed Binh’s visit, which comes as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties and 15 years of their Strategic Partnership. They expressed admiration for Vietnam’s efforts to develop the nation as well as determination to build international financial center in Da Nang city and Ho Chi Minh City, pledging to share experience and offer human resources training in this area to the country.
They affirmed that Germany considers Vietnam an important strategic partner in Southeast Asia amidst global and regional uncertainties. As both economies are highly open, the officials expressed their hope that the two sides could leverage each other’s strengths to deepen the bilateral ties across all domains and capitalise on the opportunities that the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) brings about.
They announced that the German Bundestag will ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement in early 2026, while praising the Vietnamese community in Germany who has bridged the friendship between the two nations, according to VNA.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh (R) and Vice-President of the German Bundestag Bodo Ramelow (Photo: VNA) |
Binh thanked Germany for its plan to ratify the EVIPA soon and said he hopes that the German leaders will urge the European Commission to lift the yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.
At the events, the two sides also concurred to bolster cooperation in areas that Vietnam has demands and Germany boasts strength, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure, science – technology, and education – training.
On September 29, the Deputy PM addressed the Annual General Meeting of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC) in Frankfurt, during which he laid stress on Vietnam’s resolve to build a modern legal framework aligned with global standards to operate its financial facility. He emphasized that the groundwork in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, spanning legal, institutional, and infrastructure preparation, is largely complete and ready to welcome global partners.
While building international financial centers is unprecedented for Vietnam, the country possesses unique advantages including political stability, a transparent and attractive investment environment, a solid macroeconomic foundation, and a young, dynamic population ready to adapt to modern financial trends.
He highlighted the Government’s commitments to creating a transparent and modern legal system to ensure investors’ confidence, issuing special incentives, and attracting top financial talent through world-class infrastructure.
The same day, Binh attended the SIBOS 2025 Frankfurt, the world’s largest finance-banking event that drew more than 10,000 participants from central banks, financial organisations, and tech corporations.
On October 30, Binh presided over a conference on Vietnam international financial center investment promotion in Frankfurt. The event gathered executives from leading German and European corporations and financial institutions. On this occasion, Da Nang signed a memorandum of cooperation with Frankfurt Main Finance to exchange expertise in managing international financial hubs and connect potential investors.
He then had a working session with the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), with the participation of 20 German firms seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam in such areas as transport, carbon and renewable energy, IT, and vocational training.
Meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin and members of the Vietnamese community, he briefed them on the country’s recent economic achievements as well as the Party and State’s major policies while addressing concerns related to citizenship, online Vietnamese-language education, and policies to attract global talent.
Vietnam, Bulgaria agree to expand cooperation in new areas
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and her Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Pavlov discussed cooperation between the two countries and their foreign ministries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Sofia on September 30 during the former’s working visit to Bulgaria.
At the meeting, both officials updated each other on developments in their respective countries. Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang congratulated Bulgaria on its recent achievements in development and European integration, its successful accession to the Schengen Zone, and its plan to join the Eurozone in early 2026.
In response, Deputy FM Nikolay Pavlov said Bulgaria is close to completing its European integration process, with accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) expected next year. He praised Vietnam’s socio-economic development, calling it a promising market for Bulgaria and the European Union.
He affirmed that Bulgaria always attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam, a partner of paramount importance to Bulgaria in the region, reported VOV.
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| A cultural performance marking Vietnam-Bulgaria friendship. |
The two sides agreed that traditional friendship and all-around cooperation have grown steadily in recent years, with regular high-level exchanges between state and parliamentary channels, and close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and ASEAN-EU frameworks. They also organized various activities to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. Cooperation in trade and investment, education and training, science and technology, defence and security, culture, labor, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges has also seen positive development
Both sides underscored the need to closely coordinate preparations for upcoming high-level visits to strengthen political trust and augment cooperation in new areas such as high technology, innovation, workforce training in artificial intelligence and supercomputing, database connectivity, defence-security industry, automobile industry, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals as a contribution to elevating the bilateral ties to new heights.
Vietnam, Russia conclude first People’s Forum, pledge to deepen ties
The first Vietnam–Russia People’s Forum wrapped up in Hanoi on October 1 after nearly two days of discussions, marking a milestone in celebrations of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Various reports on cooperation across science – technology, health care, economy, trade, tourism, culture, education, and art, among others were delivered at the event, which, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations Phan Anh Son said in his closing remarks, showed determination to bolster the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Both nations share a special relationship built on deep historical and cultural ties, Son emphasised, noting that even many Vietnamese who have never set foot in Russia hold strong affection for the country, its history, cuisine and culture. He underscored the need to maintain and expand people-to-people cooperation, strengthen the traditional friendship, and harness opportunities in trade, investment and cultural exchanges, alongside science – technology, digital transformation, and art, cited VOV.
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| The first Vietnam–Russia People’s Forum wrapps up in Hanoi on October 1 after nearly two days of discussions. (Photo: VNA) |
Vyacheslav G. Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the Saint Petersburg Committee for External Relations, described the forum as a convergence of diverse voices united in their aspiration to strengthen the bilateral ties and honor the previous generations for their dedication to building Vietnam–Russia friendship.
The Russian people will continue nurturing the friendship with Vietnam through concrete actions, particularly in economy and community cooperation, he stressed.
He told the Vietnam News Agency that Russia and Saint Pertersburg in particular treasure cooperation with Vietnam, adding the city will leverage its twinning relations with Vietnamese localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong city, Thanh Hoa province, and Hanoi to promote exchange and cooperation for the effective development of economy and tourism.
Vietnam’s e-commerce forecast to hit USD 28 billion in 2025
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has raised its B2C e-commerce growth forecast for Vietnam in 2025 to 25.5%, with total transaction value projected to reach between USD 26 billion and USD 28 billion.
The Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade recently highlighted key developments in both global and domestic e-commerce.
Globally, OpenAI has ushered in a new era with GPT Pro’s “Buy Direct in Chat” feature, enabling users to make purchases directly within a conversation. This marks the beginning of the “AI Commerce” era, where artificial intelligence not only provides recommendations but also acts as a transactional bridge.
Meanwhile, TikTok Shop is trialing a model combining short videos and livestreaming in Japan, the world’s fourth-largest e-commerce market. If successful, it will pave the way for the platform’s expansion into more developed economies.
In China, major players like Meituan, Pinduoduo, and JD.com are aggressively promoting the instant e-commerce model, promising delivery of essential goods within just 30 minutes. This trend is already spreading to ASEAN countries and is expected to arrive in Vietnam soon.
Domestically, in a document sent to the Ministry of Finance regarding the implementation of Government Resolutions 226 and 230, the Ministry of Industry and Trade raised its B2C e-commerce growth forecast for 2025 to 25.5%. The total B2C transaction value is expected to reach between USD 26 billion and USD 28 billion, with a long-term goal of hitting USD 50 billion by 2030. According to the ministry, this surge is largely driven by platforms such as Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada, fueled by the growing trend of video-based shopping.
According to the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, e-commerce continues to be a bright spot in Vietnam’s digital economy.
Experts note that while Vietnam’s e-commerce is growing rapidly, challenges related to cost management, logistics, and competition remain. Identifying sustainable growth strategies is imperative, particularly in light of the current limitations in human resources.
To address this, the Center for E-commerce and Digital Technology Development (eComDX), under the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, has developed and is rolling out the “4 Go” solution package, comprising GoRight, GoOnline, GoExport, and GoAI, to support businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide through digital transformation, VNN reported.
GoRight focuses on disseminating and updating legal frameworks, standardizing processes, and helping both businesses and regulatory bodies comply with e-commerce laws. This reduces operational risks and promotes legal adherence.
GoOnline assists businesses in building a digital presence, enhancing online sales skills, livestream techniques, and leveraging digital tools to promote products effectively.
GoExport opens the door to cross-border e-commerce, equipping businesses with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to successfully list and sell products on international platforms such as Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com.
GoAI supports both businesses and regulatory bodies in applying artificial intelligence for data analysis, process optimization, customer experience enhancement, livestream monitoring, and the integration of AI agents to develop intelligent virtual assistants and self-service chatbots, thereby boosting competitiveness in the digital age.
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