Speaking at the 9th Vietnam-EU Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum on November 4 in Hanoi, H.E. Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, reaffirmed that the European Union views Vietnam as a bright spot of economic dynamism, resilience, and growth aspiration amid global fragmentation and slowing economic growth.
According to him, Vietnam’s economic development represents one of the most impressive achievements of the modern era. The nation’s targets to become a high-income, innovation-driven developed country by 2045 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 reflect a strong strategic vision for sustainable development.
The EU diplomat emphasized that upgrading bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in early 2026, alongside the recent visit to the EU and the Kingdom of Belgium by General Secretary and President To Lam, created powerful political momentum.
To fully capture new high-quality investment flows from Europe, particularly in the green economy and future value chains, he strongly advocated for Vietnam to streamline regulatory frameworks and transition toward risk-based management.
EVFTA remains pillar of economic partnership
Highlighting the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) as a solid pillar, Ambassador Julien Guerrier expressed confidence that full and effective implementation of the agreement will unlock even greater economic potential. Vietnam currently stands as the EU’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks 16th globally.
His assessments were echoed by trade indicators presented by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Luong Hoang Thai. In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s GDP grew over 9 percent year-on-year, while total import-export turnover surpassed $1 trillion by November 4. Two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU reached over $65 billion during the nine-month period, up nearly 20 percent year-on-year.
Addressing energy transformation, Ambassador Julien Guerrier highly commended the nearly €4 billion ($4.5 billion) invested in renewable energy in Vietnam during the first half of 2026. Through the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the Global Gateway strategy, European institutions stand ready to provide financial resources and advanced technologies to support Vietnam’s green transition.
Mr. Noel Clehane, Vice Chairman of the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), added that European enterprises are eager to co-create a sustainable ecosystem, as production competitiveness is now closely tied to green standards and sustainable finance.
In response, Mr. Trinh Quoc Vu, Deputy Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, outlined implementation plans under the Adjusted Power Development Plan 8. Vietnam is prioritizing three key areas of cooperation with European partners: offshore wind development, battery energy storage systems (BESS) alongside pumped-storage hydropower, and high-quality human resource training.
Vietnam committed to continuing institutional reforms and improving its investment environment to create favorable conditions for European investors participating in energy transition projects, he said.
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