PM Chính, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Hold Bilateral Talks on G20 Summit Sidelines
Johannesburg, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Johannesburg on Sunday, as part of his engagements on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africa.
During the meeting, PM Chính reaffirmed Việt Nam’s high regard for its Strategic Partnership with Germany and commended Berlin’s prominent role within the European Union. He welcomed Germany’s active engagement in the Asia–Pacific region, noting its contribution to regional peace, stability and sustainable development.
Both leaders stressed the importance of solidarity, friendship and cooperation amid the increasingly complex global and regional landscape. They underscored the need to advance free trade, ensure the smooth flow of goods and services, and remove barriers hindering business and production for the benefit of their citizens.
PM Chính expressed appreciation to the German parliament for ratifying the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on November 13, shortly after his phone discussion with the German Chancellor in September. He said the agreement’s enforcement is expected to create significant breakthroughs in bilateral trade and investment.
The Vietnamese leader also thanked the German Government for its official development assistance (ODA) in energy, environmental protection and vocational training. He proposed maintaining long-term cooperation in dual vocational training, facilitating recognition of Vietnamese qualifications based on German standards, and enhancing support for the Vietnamese community in Germany to integrate into society and contribute more effectively to bilateral relations.
Chancellor Merz praised Việt Nam’s growing regional and global stature and its achievements across fields, reaffirming that Việt Nam is an important partner in Germany’s Indo-Pacific strategy. He expressed Germany’s intention to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest and strength, including minerals, high-speed rail, vocational training, defence industry development and cyber security. He also recommended stepping up joint initiatives in vocational education.
PM Chính highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation in security and crime prevention, including combating offences affecting national security, to help ensure social stability.
The meeting reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to deepening their strategic partnership and broadening collaboration across key sectors.
