In the recently held virtual negotiation, Germany was newly ranked as a "Global Partner Country" within the framework of the Federal Government's new strategy on development cooperation, emphasizing its role as an important strategic partner of Vietnam.
At the negotiation (Photo: congthuong.vn)
The two countries have decided to expand cooperation on the core topics of “Training and Sustainable Growth for Quality Jobs”, “Responsibility to our Planet – Climate and Energy” and “Protecting Our Living Facilities – Environment and Natural Resources”, as well as the topics “Health/Pandemic/ ONE HEALTH” and “Peace and Social Cooperation”.
With additional commitments of up to EUR113.5 million, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will support Vietnam in the next two years to implement its sustainable development model and undertake much more global responsibility. The Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety commits an additional EUR30 million to the next phase of funding under the International Climate Initiative, to fund biodiversity and climate projects in Vietnam.
Over the next two years, the partnership will focus primarily on the areas of Global Climate Protection, Economic Integration and Climate Change Adaptation, Biodiversity Protection, as well as strong connectivity with global value-added chains. In addition, Germany will support Vietnam to overcome the shortage of specialized human resources and support the strengthening of sustainable supply chains. Within the framework of global health protection and pandemic prevention, Germany advises Vietnam in combating illegal wildlife trade and avoiding zoonotic diseases.
Vietnam and Germany have a strong cooperative relationship. Germany is one of the countries providing regular ODA to Vietnam. Since 1990, Germany has provided more than 2 billion USD for ODA projects in Vietnam through technical and financial cooperation. German projects focus on important areas such as renewable energy development, environmental protection, and vocational training, making practical contributions to Vietnam's socio-economic development. Projects in the field of vocational training and training of nurses in Germany for Vietnam not only help meet the labor shortage in Germany, but also open up opportunities for Vietnamese youth to study, gain experience and work in an advanced environment in Germany.
For many consecutive years, Germany has been Vietnam's largest partner in the European Union market. Since August 1, 2020, the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVFTA) has officially taken effect, creating an important dynamic for strengthening trade relations between the two countries. In the context of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the exchange between the two countries and the two economies is more important than ever, as only open markets and free trade can help overcome this crisis, as well as boosting the economies of the two countries./.