Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Germany this time is designed to realize a strategic action plan and major projects between the two nations and augment bilateral cooperation in labour, vocational training and education.

On the afternoon of October 14, PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his delegation left Brussels, concluding their official visit to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union (EU).

The same day, Dung and his entourage arrived in Stuttgart city, Baden Wuerttemberg, for their official visit to Germany at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel. 

Vietnamese delegates were warmly welcomed by Minister-President of Baden Wuerttemberg Winfried Kretschmann, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh, embassy and consulate general staff in Frankfurt along with Vietnamese community representatives in Stuttgart.

PM Dung and his delegation arriving at Stuttgart international airport.

During the visit, PM Dung and German leaders will agree upon preparations for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015, and compare notes on regional and international issues of common concern.

Germany is currently Vietnam’s largest trade European partner. Bilateral trade has increased steadily at over 10% per year, reaching approximately US$4.9 billion in the first eight months of this year. 

German backs EU support for the early recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status aiming to accelerate the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) negotiations and boost economic and trade links between the two countries.

Vietnam is seen as Germany’s potential and fast growing market in Asia. Until now, Germany has had 232 valid projects capitalized at US$1.25 billion focusing on the processing industry, manufacturing, electricity and gas.

Vietnam now runs 17 investment projects in Germany with a total capital investment of over US$92 million involving in the financial- banking sector, food services, real estate and trade.

Baden Wuerttemberg officials and Vietnamese nationals in Germany welcoming PM Nguyen Tan Dung.

Germany is one of Vietnam’s regular ODA providers at high levels, amounting to more than US$1.5 billion and also one of the most important partners of Vietnam in terms of vocational training.

Before his arrival in Stuttgart, PM Dung had a meeting with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz in Brussels, Belgium, during which he highlighted the European Parliament’s role in strengthening the Vietnam-EU relations and asked for its strong support for an early signing and ratification of an EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FVFTA). 

The President pledged his great efforts to speed up the ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement  (PCA) and the signing of the EVFTA in 2015 while greatly appreciating Vietnam’s role in resolving peacefully disputes in the East Sea in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, PM Dung also conveyed an invitation from National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to Martin Schulz to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.