NA chief’s visit aims to boost Vietnam – EU parliamentary ties
National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s upcoming working trip to the European Parliament (EP) is expected to help develop friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and parliaments of EU member countries.
Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) meets with Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala in Hanoi on January 7 this year (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) ChairwomanNguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s upcoming working trip to the European Parliament (EP) isexpected to help develop friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese NAand parliaments of EU member countries.
During the visit, made at the invitation of EP PresidentAntonio Tajani, the Vietnamese top legislator will discuss parliamentary collaborationbetween Vietnam and the EP and EU member countries, as well as the ties betweenthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU. Bilateral,regional and international issues of common concern will also be tabled.
The trip is the first made by a Vietnamese NA leader to theEP after eight years.
Vietnam and the EU established official diplomatic relationson November 28, 1990. In 1996, the European Commission (EC) set up itsrepresentative mission in Hanoi.
The two sides have maintained several cooperationmechanisms, including the annual political consultation at deputy foreignministerial level; Vietnam-EU Joint Committee; and Vietnam-EU human rightsdialogue.
Vietnam and the EU have coordinated closely at multilateralforums and international organisations, especially within the framework of theASEAN-EU cooperation mechanism, the ASEM and the UN, and in addressing globalissues such as climate change, sustainable development, energy security,counter-terrorism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and illegalmigration.
In 2017, EU was the third biggest trade partner of Vietnamafter China and the US, and was the second biggest importer of products fromthe Southeast Asian nation.
Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Spain,Austria and Belgium are Vietnam’s largest export markets in the EU, with annualturnover exceeding 1 billion USD each. Vietnam’s main exports to the marketsare textiles and garment, footwear, coffee, seafood, computers, and phonecomponents.
The two sides have completed their negotiations of the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
The relations between the Vietnamese NA and the EP have beengrowing robustly to become an important pillar in the Vietnam – EU ties.Regular delegation exchanges, dialogues, and meetings between parliamentariansat multilateral parliamentary forums have contributed significantly to thesides’ engagement. The two parliaments also established their bilateralfriendship parliamentarians’ groups.
The NA Chairwoman’s visit to the EP is part of her trip fromMarch 28 to April 8, which also includes official visits to Morocco and Franceand attendance at the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) andrelated meetings in Doha, Qatar.-VNA
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will make official visits to Morocco and France, work with the EU Parliament and attend the 140th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings in Doha, Qatar from March 28 to April 8.
Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan left Hanoi on March 27 morning to pay official visits to Morocco and France, and a working visit to the European Parliament.
The official visit to Morocco by Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, starting on March 28, is expected to help enhance the friendship and cooperation between the countries’ parliaments.
National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s visit to France, made at the invitation of President of the National Assembly of France Richard Ferrand, is the first official one by a NA leader of Vietnam after 11 years, aiming to accelerate the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) meets with Vice President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala in Hanoi on January 7 this year (Photo: VNA) 
