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| German Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender visited Vietnam from January 23-24. (Source: Agenda.ge) |
President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender will pay a State visit to Vietnam from January 23-24 at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife. On this occasion, Mr. Rolf Schulze, former German Ambassador to Vietnam from 2007-2011, currently Chairman of the German-Vietnamese Association (GBA), shared with the press about the significance of the visit.
Roadmap for cooperation
According to Mr. Rolf Schulze, the upcoming visit to Vietnam by the German head of state is a testament to the close and friendly bilateral relationship. Mr. Rolf Schulze said that since he was Ambassador to Vietnam and had the honor of accompanying Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in his capacity as Foreign Minister at that time, to visit Vietnam, he witnessed Mr. Steinmeier's deep interest in Vietnam's dynamic development.
It is remarkable that the President of the Federal Republic of Germany visited Vietnam just over a year after the very successful visit of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Germany considers Vietnam one of its important partners in Asia. Both countries attach great importance to the rules-based international order in a multipolar world governed by the principles of the United Nations Charter. For both countries, respect for territorial integrity and the peaceful resolution of conflicts are of great importance.
Referring to the achievements in Germany's foreign policy towards Vietnam over the years, Mr. Rolf Schulze expressed his impression of bilateral initiatives, of which the most prominent in the Germany-Vietnam relationship was the signing of the "Strategic Partnership" in 2011. This achievement serves as a "roadmap" for the cooperation process between the two countries.
Another major achievement was the establishment of the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in 2008, which opened up “new horizons” for academic exchange between the two countries. In addition, with the International German School in Ho Chi Minh City (IGS), students graduating from the baccalaureate program at this international school can transfer directly to universities in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and many other countries around the world.
The “Deutsches House” in Ho Chi Minh City is also one of the proud projects. The building is designed with two solid glass facades and an external ventilation system, considered a modern, energy-saving building worldwide. The building also helps users have the best experience with the ability to minimize noise and heat from the outside.
The building also houses the German Consulate General, making it a top destination for German companies and promoting German-Vietnamese relations. Modern German technology combined with a high level of sustainability creates an innovative workspace of exceptional quality. The “German House” will be a key project of the Federal Republic of Germany in Vietnam, with a special design that takes into account urban development and planning factors.
Real success story
Another very important foundation in the German-Vietnamese bilateral relationship is cooperation in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. Germany supports the Vietnamese Government's "Green Growth Strategy" and contributes to the Political Declaration establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to "unlock" financial resources to support Vietnam's just and sustainable energy transition.
Last but not least, the economic relationship between the two countries is a real success story. Mr. Rolf Schulze affirmed that within the European Union (EU), Germany is by far Vietnam’s most important partner. Likewise, Vietnam is Germany’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
According to Mr. Rolf Schulze, at the bilateral level, vocational training will bring many opportunities for cooperation in the future. At the international level, both countries need to further strengthen cooperation within the United Nations organizations. Discussing international challenges together will be a mutually beneficial scenario.
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