Vietnam and Germany have approved an action plan for the 2020-2021 period which calls on the two countries to uphold rule-based order, respect international law, and protect human rights and principles of sovereignty and the rule of law.

German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis and Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung during the consultations in Hanoi on Dec 5. Photo: VGP

The viewpoint was affirmed by State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis and Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung at the Vietnam-Germany Consultations held in Hanoi on December 4.

The action plan functions as basis for the Vietnam-Germany cooperation in the next two years, especially in 2020 when the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of the bilateral ties with tightened collaboration in bilateral and multilateral forums, according to the German Embassy in Hanoi.

Accordingly, the two sides would intensify cooperation in the next months with a focus on security policies in the face that Vietnam will take over the ASEAN chairmanship while Germany will chair the European Union (EU) in 2020.

In the same year, both Vietnam and Germany will be non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, for which Germany pledged to support Vietnam in coping with global concerns namely climate change and security.

German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis and Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Dec 5. Photo: VGP

At the consultations, Andreas Michaelis and To Anh Dung agreed to deepen the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership.

Germany is currently Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the Europe. The two-way trade reached US$15.6 billion in 2018, accounting for roughly 20% of the trade turnover between Vietnam and the EU, statistics by Vietnam's customs showed.

Germany is also among the biggest ODA providers for Vietnam.

Meanwhile, top German leaders have affirmed that Vietnam is Germany’s leading trade partner in ASEAN.

In another move, the government of Germany last month pledged to finance EUR213.4 million (US$235 million) for Vietnam in the next two years to help the country pursue the green growth strategies.

The funding, which includes EUR180 million worth of official development assistance (ODA) and EUR33.4 (US$36.7) of non-refundable aid by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), would focus on energy, environment, and vocational training. Hanoitimes

Linh Pham