Prof. Dr. Thomas Engelbert from the University of Hamburg grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency's resident correspondents. (Photo: VNA) Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents, he said the relations between Germany and Vietnam have been thriving, especially in economy.
Germany is currently the biggest trading partner of Vietnam in Europe, with bilateral trade growing continually in recent years, particularly since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect. It is also the largest European investor in the Southeast Asian nation. Although Germany’s total investment in Vietnam remains modest compared to that in many other Asian countries, the development trend is very good in the coming time, he elaborated.
The two countries have also enjoying good cooperation in many other areas such as environmental protection, clean energy development, culture, education - training, and development cooperation, Engelbert said, noting that they have demand for enhancing and expanding cooperation to multiple spheres.
Describing the German Chancellor’s visit as great significance to the bilateral ties, the professor said the trip is driven by the German Government’s Indo-Pacific strategy, unveiled in 2020, and policy of diversifying political and economic partnerships in the region. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam is viewed as an important partner of Germany.
Through the visit, Germany wants to further reinforce cooperative ties with Vietnam, particularly in economy, trade, and investment, to maximise each country’s advantages. German enterprises are also paying great attention to the investment and business climate in Vietnam and want to increase their presence here, he went on.
The trip will help promote political trust between the two countries, thus creating momentum for the bilateral relations to grow stronger in the time to come, Engelbert added./.
VNA
