Pushing Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership into Depth

Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh. Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese Embassy in Germany held a banquet on September 17 to mark Vietnam’s National Day (September 2), the 47th anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany diplomatic ties (September 23) and the 32nd German Unity Day (October 3).

The event was attended by representatives of the German Government, the Lichtenberg district government (Berlin), the Vietnamese Consul General in Frankfurt, Ambassadors, Defense Attachés, representatives of the Diplomatic Corps in Berlin, and the Business Association. German small and medium enterprises, the German-Vietnamese Association, and a large number of German and international friends and the Vietnamese community in Germany.

Addressing the event, Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh thanked the German people for their feelings and support extended to Vietnam during its struggle for national liberation in the past as well as national development process at present.

Ambassador Minh also said that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Germany has a very special bridge, which is the community of more than 200,000 Vietnamese in Germany and about 100,000 German-speaking people in Vietnam. It is very happy and proud that the Vietnamese community in Germany is highly appreciated by the host government for its good integration and practical contributions to socio-economic development and cultural diversity of the second homeland and always has their hearts towards Vietnam.

Vietnam will continue to do its best as a reliable and responsible partner, always attaching importance to its cooperation and friendship with Germany and promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.

Toast to celebreate the two countries’ speacial days and anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany diplomatic ties. Photo: VNA

Martin Thummel, deputy head of the Department of Asia-Pacific region under the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs said during the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years, the two countries have provided timely supported to each other with hundreds of thousands of masks given to Germany by Vietnam and 10,000 doses of vaccines donated to Vietnam by Germany.

He emphasised that the vaccine donation programme to Vietnam is one of Germany’s most successful programmes during the pandemic.

Germany and Vietnam will continue to promote cooperation in all fields to further promote the strategic partnership between the two countries in the coming time, he said.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, one of the potential areas of cooperation between the two countries is climate protection, of which Vietnam is one of the countries selected by the G7 as an energy transition partner.

In the field of educational exchange and cooperation, one of the important projects between the two countries is the Vietnam-Germany University, and Germany has only three similar projects in Asia. He expressed his hope to be able to continue successfully implementing this project.

In the economic field, Germany is looking for transformational steps to diversify partners, find new markets and investment destinations so as not to have to depend on one big country. The German diplomat said many German businesses are expected to come to Vietnam to explore investment opportunities.

Delegates pose for a photo. Photo: VNA

Previously, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Germany successfully organised a Vietnam-Germany friendship golf tournament, with the participation of 120 golfers from Vietnam, Germany and other countries.

The Vietnamese Ambassador handed over gifts worth a total of EUR 6,000, donated by donors and golfers, to the German side and to representatives of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Red Cross to support charitable activities in Germany and Vietnam.

At the celebration, the organizing committee also gave prizes to the winning golfers and conducted a lucky draw with many high-value prizes.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh (the first from the right) hands over gifts to representatives of the Lichtenberg district government (Berlin) and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross. Photo:VNA

At the Vietnam-Germany friendship golf tournament. Source: Vietnamese embassy in Germany

In August, the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany also hosted a get-together in Berlin for representatives of the Vietnamese community in the host country on the occasion of the 77th National Day and the 77th traditional day of the diplomatic sector (August 28).

The embassy handed over certificates of merit of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs to collectives, associations and individuals for their contributions to the fight against the pandemic and supporting flood victims in the central region of Vietnam over the past two years.