Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on September 27 for newly-appointed German Ambassador to Vietnam Helga Margarete.

At the meeting, PM Chinh congratulated Margarete on receiving her new assignment in Vietnam, believing that the Ambassador's experience would contribute positively to the relationship between the two countries.

The PM is pleased to see that after nearly five decades, the Vietnam - Germany relations have continued to develop fruitfully, especially after the Vietnam visits by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in November 2022 and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in January 2024, creating new momentum for the bilateral relations.

Currently, Germany is Vietnam's largest trading partner in the European Union (EU) with trade turnover reaching over 11 billion USD in 2023, and more than 8 billion USD in the first eight months of 2024. Educational cooperation between the two countries is developing positively with more than 7,500 Vietnamese students studying in Germany and the Viet-German University project operating effectively.

PM Chinh highly appreciated the German government’s creating conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work stably in Germany.

Towards the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025, the PM proposed the two sides coordinate to organise meaningful activities such as exchanging high-level delegations, organising Germany Days in Vietnam and Vietnam Days in Germany to further deepen the cooperative relationship.

He suggested both sides take advantage of the opportunities of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), ask the German parliament to soon approve the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), urge the European Commission (EC) to soon remove IUU “yellow card” against Vietnamese seafood and strengthen cooperation and mutual support at international and regional forums.

On this occasion, PM Chinh thanked the German Government for providing Vietnam with a large number of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Germany's sympathy and support through multilateral mechanisms to help Vietnam overcome the consequences of recent Typhoon Yagi.

Margarete expressed her honour to take on the assignment in Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam is a key partner of Germany in the region and pledging to make every effort to promote the relations between the two countries.

On this occasion, the Ambassador offered her sympathy with the loss of life and property of the Vietnamese people after Typhoon Yagi and said Germany would continue to support Vietnam through multilateral mechanisms.

Margarete highly appreciated the good development of the bilateral relations, and agreed to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to carry out activities commemorating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The diplomat spoke highly of Vietnam's role at international and regional forums and said that in the coming time, she wishes to further promote cooperation between the two countries in all fields, especially education, training, skilled labour, and climate change adaptation.

Regarding international and regional issues, including the East Sea issue, the 🌱two sides heightened the basic principles of international law, and agreed to resolve disputes by peaceful means and ensure security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, on the basis of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982./.