On November 18 (local time), during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and other global leaders to enhance Vietnam's diplomatic and economic partnerships.  

In his discussion with Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated her on her re-election as European Commission President and expressed gratitude for the EU’s support in helping Vietnam recover from Typhoon Yagi.  

The Prime Minister outlined three key directions to strengthen Vietnam-EU relations:  

High-Level Engagement and Resolution of Issues: He urged the European Commission to lift the IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing yellow card and resolve lingering bilateral challenges.  

Investment Protection and Financial Support: He encouraged the EU to push for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) by the nine remaining member states and continue providing ODA, financial aid, and technical assistance to help Vietnam comply with the EU’s sustainable development requirements. 

Energy Transition Cooperation: He requested the EU’s support in capital, technology, and human resource training to implement the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) effectively.  

Von der Leyen responded positively to these proposals, agreeing on the need for enhanced economic and trade cooperation. She emphasized optimizing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and strengthening ASEAN-EU collaboration.  

She also called for Vietnam’s support of EU initiatives promoting peace, stability, and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.  

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh invited Ursula von der Leyen to officially visit Vietnam and attend the 4th Summit of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) Forum, hosted by Vietnam from April 14–17, 2025.  

During his meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed gratitude for the UN’s 40 years of support for Vietnam’s development and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to upholding the UN’s central role in global governance.  

Guterres commended Vietnam’s economic and social progress despite global uncertainties, describing the country as a model of peace and sustainable development.  

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also held discussions with leaders from Malaysia, the UK, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Mexico, South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, he met representatives from international organizations, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).  

Thu Hang