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European Union (EU) Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier believes that the strong reforms implemented by the Vietnamese Government will continue to strengthen Vietnams attractiveness to foreign investors. Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam Julien GuerrierMr. Julien Guerrier expressed optimism about Vietnams development prospects in the coming time when talking with a reporter from the Government Electronic Newspaper about Vietnams achievements in the period 2021-2026, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the EU and Vietnam (November 28, 1990 - November 28, 2025). Development partnership Over the past decades, the Vietnam-EU partnership has expanded significantly in many fields. Could you please share some outstanding achievements in bilateral relations? Ambassador Julien Guerrier: Diplomatic relations between the two sides were established in 1990 -- marking the official beginning of a relationship that has continued to develop since then. Today, we can confidently and proudly affirm that this is a truly meaningful partnership, which has grown dramatically -- from bilateral, regional to global -- not only in economic terms but also, and increasingly, in political cooperation. In the first phase, the focus of our cooperation was on a common humanitarian program, supporting the resettlement of more than 100,000 Vietnamese people who crossed the border at sea. Thirty-five years later, cooperation between the two sides has expanded to many areas, including trade, environment, energy, science and technology, governance, cultural exchange, migration, prevention of corruption and organized crime, as well as peace and security. Vietnam has become an increasingly important partner of the European Union, sharing a strong commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order. In 2016, the two sides signed the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), laying the foundation for bilateral relations ever since. The progress we have achieved together is most clearly demonstrated through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) -- the EUs first agreement with a developing country. Since taking effect in 2020, bilateral trade turnover has increased by about 40%, bringing economic relations between the two sides to an unprecedented level. Regarding development cooperation, the EU is currently managing a non-refundable aid portfolio worth nearly 300 million euros, with about 160 million euros in preparation. Our priorities include sustainable green growth, decent work and responsible business, as well as good governance. The EUs current largest program in Vietnam focuses on supporting Vietnams energy transition, providing technical support to Government agencies with a total budget of 142 million euros. This demonstrates our shared commitment to promoting sustainable development, rule of law and human rights. In 2019, the two sides signed a Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), allowing Vietnam to participate in EU-led missions and activities. This is the first agreement that the EU has signed with an ASEAN country, marking an important step forward in our joint efforts to contribute to global peace and security. Looking back at these achievements, it can be seen that all the progress achieved stems from the dedication of both sides to deepen the partnership -- along with a mutual understanding that promoting this relationship best serves the interests of both the European Union and Vietnam, Ambassador Julien Guerrier emphasized. strong. The signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is an important milestone in bilateral relations between the two sides, and 2025 marks the fifth anniversary since the agreement was implemented. Can you share some positive results that EVFTA has brought since it took effect? Ambassador Julien Guerrier: The EVFTA Agreement has come into effect at a turning point -- when Vietnam needs trade liberalization more than ever. The agreement was implemented just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on the global and Vietnamese economies. In the context of declining global consumer demand, EVFTA has become a buffer to help the Vietnamese economy minimize negative impacts. Vietnams exports still achieved double-digit growth, while global exports declined significantly. In 2021, when most economies in the world are facing difficulties, Vietnam still achieved export growth of 5.1%, and this growth momentum has been maintained over the past five years, with an average growth rate of more than 10% per year. On the EU side, the implementation of the trade agreement also brought positive growth, although at a more modest level, about 5% per year. From the EUs perspective, there is still plenty of room to achieve better results, especially if we ensure full and effective implementation of the EVFTA. This will also help EVFTA become a solid foundation for EU-Vietnam cooperation in the future, in new areas of mutual interest. Vietnams ambitions in economic growth, human resource development, technology upgrading, as well as expectationsWanting to attract more foreign and EU investors requires such cooperation. The entry into force of the EVFTA has helped the flow of capital and technology from the EU to Vietnam increase to more than 30 billion euros, compared to the previous level of 22 billion euros. In todays volatile world context, the EVFTA is a clear demonstration of our common commitment to free, fair and rules-based trade. Overall, this agreement has become a model for other FTAs that the EU is and will negotiate. Although the EVFTA Agreement has opened up many new opportunities, it also poses many challenges for Vietnamese businesses. So, Ambassador, what are these challenges, and what steps does the Vietnamese Government need to take to more effectively exploit the potential of the agreement? Ambassador Julien Guerrier: The EVFTA Agreement sets out
